KAWASHIWAZAKI, Japan, May 23 Kyodo ...

KAWASHIWAZAKI, Japan, May 23 Kyodo

The father of a Japanese national abducted on North Korea but now back in Japan said Friday he took offense at the resum operations of a North Korean ferry despite allegations the ship is involved in smuggling.

Speaking to reporters at his family circle in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture Hidekazu Hasuike, 75 described as ''offensive'' that the Man Gyong Bong-92 will take back its operations, and urged the guidance to halt the operations as a form of ''sanctions.''

Early forward Thursday, the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) said the North Korean ferry linking North Korea's Wonsan and Japan's Niigata ports will recommence operations around June 10 after a lapse of five months

The Man Gyong Bong-92 had suspended operations befitting to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since it last called at Niigata in mid-January, yet will resume them as the North Korean quarantine theory on the disease has improved, Chongryon said earlier.

Touching upon the U.S. congressional testimony of a former North Korean missile scientist, Hasuike said, ''I do not know what exactly North Korea has in mind.''

In the testimony, the scientist accused Chongryon of smuggling missile ingredients to North Korea using the passenger-cargo ship that plies between Japan and North Korea.

Japanese public security authorities also allege the ship is involved in espionage activities, and there had been growing calls in Japan to ban the ship's visits.

The Man Gyong Bong-92 transports uprights and passengers, mostly permanent Korean residents of Japan visiting North Korea.

Hasuike said he, his son Kaoru and the intermission of his family have faith that there will be ''some kind of progres athwart the abduction issue'' during the upcoming talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U President George W Bush at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Kaoru Hasuike, 45 is the same of the five Japanese nationals abducted by dint of North Korean agents in 1978 and turn backed to Japan on Oct. 15 2002 for what was originally said to be a brief homecoming visit.

Kaoru, his wife Yukiko, and the three other former abductees have since settl in Japan, notwithstanding that members of their families remain in the North.

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