GENEVA, March 30 Kyodo The United...

GENEVA, March 30 Kyodo

The United Nations will continue its investigations into the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea from the late 1970 to the early 1980 whose fates are still unaccounted for, a senior official of the UN Human Rights Commission said Tuesday.

Diego Garcia Sayan, chairman of the commission's Working cluster on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, made the remarks in replication to North Korea's statement that the North considers the issue of its past abductions of Japanese nationals as a bilateral issue.

in succession Tuesday, the working group submitted a report covering the abduction and other issues to the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

North Korea admitted in September 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese nationals from the late 1970 between the sides of the early 1980s but that the whereabouts of eight victims -- whom Pyongyang says had died in North Korea -- are still unaccounted for. Five other abductees get backed to Japan in October 2002

Despite North Korea's assertions that the eight abductees were dead, Garcia Sayan said his assemblage has the right to ask materials from the North that would allow the cluster to confirm the identities of victims in the same manner long as the families of the victims have been dissatisfied.

The UN commission created the working assign places to in 1980. Since its establishment, it has investigated one 50,000 cases of abductions and disappearances believed to be actionsed by governments and criminal assign places tos of about 70 countries.

The United Nations will continue its investigations into the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea from the late 1970 to the early 1980 whose fates are still unaccounted for, a senior official of the UN Human Rights Commission said Tuesday.

Diego Garcia Sayan, chairman of the commission's Working form into groups on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, made the remarks in answer to North Korea's statement that the North considers the issue of its past abductions of Japanese nationals as a bilateral issue.

forward Tuesday, the working group submitted a report covering the abduction and other issues to the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

North Korea admitted in September 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese nationals from the late 1970 between the sides of the early 1980s but that the whereabouts of eight victims -- whom Pyongyang says had died in North Korea -- are still unaccounted for. Five other abductees turn backed to Japan in October 2002

Despite North Korea's assertions that the eight abductees were dead, Garcia Sayan said his dispose has the right to beg materials from the North that would allow the arrange to confirm the identities of victims in such a manner long as the families of the victims have been dissatisfied.

The UN commission created the working arrange in 1980. Since its establishment, it has investigated an 50,000 cases of abductions and disappearances believed to be deportment ed by governments and criminal clusters of about 70 countries.

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