Japan kidnapped long for families

Japan kidnapped long for families

The returned Japanese have begun to settle into their new lives

Five Japanese who were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and returned home six months ago have still no indication of when they will be reunited with family still in the North.

"All I think about is our children," Kaoru Hasuike was quoted as saying by the Nihon Keizai newspaper.

Mr Hasuike and the four other kidnapped Japanese returned to Japan on 15 October for what was intended to be a short trip, but which has been extended indefinitely after Tokyo refused to send them back to North Korea.

Pyongyang has responded by refusing to allow their seven children, all in their teens or early 20s, to visit them.

Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, pledged on Tuesday to work for a reunion.

"It's extremely regrettable that there has been no progress," Ms Kawaguchi said at a news conference. "I intend to take advantage of all possible means to move forward with this issue," she added.

The five, who were absent from their home country for nearly a quarter of a century, have settled into established lives over the last six months.

Kaoru Hasuike is teaching Korean language at a university and Yasushi Chimura is working in a local government office, as are both the men's wives.

Heartbreak over Japan's missing

Mr Chimura said that catching up with his peers was proving difficult.

"When I see all the men of my age working so hard as managers, I feel envious and lonely," he said. "I really feel the gap of 24 years."

He said that he was worried his three children might be under even greater pressure than he and his wife.

Mr Hasuike's wife, Yukiko, said that she and her husband had bought everything their children might need in Japan, so the children could join them at any time.

The last talks on the issue were held in Kuala Lumpur in October, but broke down over North Korea's insistence that Japan send back the five kidnapped Japanese, as was originally promised.

Since then relations between North Korea and its neighbours have deteriorated further due to a row over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

The other abducted person, Hitomi Soga, who has reportedly been treated for lung cancer in Japan, has left behind a husband and children in North Korea.

She is married to an ex-US serviceman who could face extradition to Washington for desertion if he were allowed to join his wife in Japan.

"Who will bring my families together again?" she asked at a news conference. "And when will this be?," she added.