TOKYO, May 8 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING M...

TOKYO, May 8 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO IN 4TH-5TH PARAS FROM BOTTOM)

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda intimateed Thursday that Japan may consider imposing economic sanctions onward North Korea over the abductions of Japanese, still the families of abductees called for more initiative in trying to realize all the victims back.

Fukuda told five go [i]or[/i] come backed abductees and the families of missing victims that Japan could consider sanctions ''as an option depending in succession North Korea's attitude,'' according to Shigeru Yokota, whose daughter reportedly died in North Korea after being abducted there.

However, Toru Hasuike, whose brother Kaoru is united of the five returnee later told reporters he was disappointed that Fukuda did not clearly indicate Japan's leadership forward the abduction issue in an international framework for dealing with North Korea.

Fukuda said he told the returnee and the families that Japan must seek information from with other countries in dealing with North Korea and that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will discuss related issues at continuance with U.S. President George W Bush when they befitting later this month in the United States.

''To our question forward whether the option of economic sanctions will be included in the summit talks, he (Fukuda) did not renounce it, so I believe similar an option will be discussed,'' Hasuike said.

onward whether Japan would give North Korea hints about the possibility of economic sanctions, the top rule spokesman said Japan must think about its effectiveness and not act alone still coordinate its actions with other countries, according to Hasuike.

''I commited that Japan take the initiative and approach other countries, saying, 'We will impose economic sanctions, thus please cooperate.' But there was no clear answer,'' Hasuike said, adding he will closely chase the Bush-Koizumi talks.

The abductees' families and their supporters have called forward the Koizumi administration to impose sanctions because of North Korea's apparent lack of cooperation with Japan's demand that all the abductees and their families in the North issue to Japan.

The prime minister told reporters at his office Thursday, ''We must anticipate at various situations. We do not know whether pool reprisals would be effective.''

proxy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, a supporter of the abductees and families, agreed and reiterated the government's stance that Japan is generally not considering economic sanctions.

''We are thinking about various possibilities upon how to attain be the effects (on the matter),'' Abe said at a pres conference

Also Thursday, Koizumi met the five abductees -- Yasushi and Fukie Chimura, Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, and Hitomi Soga -- for the first time since they responded to Japan in October last year and urg them to have chance of the desired end in being able to come together with their families remaining in the North.

''I said...they must have experienced great offence and sadness when they were abducted and they have done well to persevere'' Koizumi said after an unscheduled meeting with the five. ''Let's hold working with the trust of a reunion with their families.''

Regarding criticism that the Japanese government's efforts in advancing talks onward the abduction issue with the North appear insufficient, Koizumi said he believes the victims understand it is not something Japan can melt alone, emphasizing the need to cooperate with other countries.

In the afternoon, the five returnee also met with Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tetsuro Yano and reiterated their trust that the Foreign Ministry continue efforts to have their families in North Korea draw near to Japan, a ministry official said.

Yano press outed regret there has not been any visible progres in succession the abduction issue despite efforts from the ministry and the conduct as a whole, and promised to continue working onward the matter as he recognizes the ne to attain follows the official said.

The five returnee have been asking the guidance to arrange for their children and Soga's American husband, who remain in North Korea, to take rise to Japan.

The families of other abduction victims are demanding that the North not absent more convincing evidence about the fates of their missing kin.

North Korea admitted last September when Koizumi visited Pyongyang that a certain circles in the North Korean restraint abducted 13 Japanese and that eight of them have died. However, the families of the eight have set asideed the report.

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