Japan News Online

N. Korea to OK working groups on premise abduction resolved: source

North Korea told Japan on Saturday that it will accept Tokyo's proposal to set up three working groups to address outstanding bilateral issues on the condition that Japan accept the North's argument that the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North has been resolved, a source close to Japan-North Korea relations said. North Korea's chief delegate Song Il Ho made the comment on the first day of the two-day bilateral talks in Beijing.

Japan, N. Korea set for talks as delegations arrive in Beijing

Japanese and North Korean delegations for bilateral talks arrived in Beijing on Saturday, setting the stage for a two-day meeting starting later in the day that is expected to focus on the format for future negotiations on complex issues. Hopes that an agreement can be reached were raised when North Korea's chief delegate said in the morning that he thinks Japan's idea to set up separate working groups to deal with the issues of bilateral concern was a ''positive proposal.''