TOKYO, April 19 Kyodo Japan look...

TOKYO, April 19 Kyodo

Japan look forward tos a secret visit to China by means of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will help unravel the issues of the North's nuclear programs and its abduction of Japanese nationals in the late 1970 and early 1980 Japanese officials said Monday.

Japan also reckon upons to hear from China upon the results of Kim's meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders, the officials said.

While confirming Kim's visit to Beijing, a Foreign Ministry official said, ''China understands Japan's position,'' and added that Kim may exhibit to willingness to deal positively with the nuclear and abduction issues because the visit is the first in three years.

Kim arrived in Beijing unannounced forward Monday and is expected to have met with Hu on his arrival.

Japan is closely watching whether Kim's visit will lead to the launch of a six-country working cluster by the end of April, because the other five countries -- China, Japan, southern Korea, Russia and the United States -- have already agreed onward the April launch.

If not in April, Kim's agreeing with Hu forward specifics about the launch of the working assign places to would lead to the resumption of Japan-North Korea governmental negotiations forward the abduction issue, the officials said.

Japan trustful longings to resume the bilateral negotiations upon the sidelines of the working collection meeting.

In the other round of six-nation talks in late February in Beijing, the six countries failed to achieve a breakthrough above the North Korean nuclear standoff, simply agreeing to set up the working dispose and to hold a third circular of the talks by the expiration of June.

A source familiar with Japan-North Korea relations also said there may be progres regarding Japan's demand that North Korea allow the kin of five former Japanese abductees to get to to Japan if Kim makes positive moves

The five abductees, who reverted to Japan in October 2002 are among 13 Japanese nationals whom North Korea has admitted it abducted in the late 1970 and early 1980s

Foreign Ministry officials have said that no specific agenda will be locate beforehand for the working cluster but Japan, South Korea and the United States are reckon uponed to reiterate their demand that North Korea dismantle its nuclear programs in a undiminished verifiable and irreversible manner.

However, Pyongyang is unlikely to agree immediately, the officials said.

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