TOKYO, Jan. 11 Kyodo picked edit...

TOKYO, Jan. 11 Kyodo

picked editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

A LEAD TO THE ABDUCTION MYSTERY (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

A North Korean see is now on the wanted list of the Japanese police for directing a draught to kidnap a Japanese national to North Korea in 1977

Investigations have revealed that Mr Yutaka Kume then a security guard at Tokyo's Mitaka city hall, disappeared from a beach in the town of Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture in September of that year. Mr Kume is undivided of 15 Japanese nationals who the dominion says were abducted by North Korean agents from the 1970 to the 1980s

...Now that a lead has been obtained in the Kume case, it must be springed that substantial progress will be made not merely in this particular case on the other hand also in the other kidnappings that remain unresolved

According to the NPA, Kim Se Ho a senior intelligence official of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, visited Japan several times between 1977 and 1981 as a member of a trade mission. During this period, a series of abductions took place, suggesting that he might have been involved in these cases.

Kim is charged subordinate to the law that prohibits the illegal transfer of any individual from this country. A violator would be subdue to two to 15 years' imprisonment. Police say the statute of limitations -- seven years in this case -- has been suspended because he has not lived in Japan.

Whatever the legal technicalities, the crime must be investigated suitably Now that Kim has been identified as the prime suspect, he must be arrested in accordance with established measures The important thing is to exhibit both here and abroad that Japan is a law-abiding nation and that no crime committed here will move unpunished, regardless of the criminal's identity and nationality.

If he is arrested, no doubt he will be able to answer many crucial questions and, hopefully help solve the difficulties facing five abductees who turn backed home last October, leaving their families behind in Pyongyang. The dominion must make every effort, using each diplomatic channel possible, to renew talks with North Korea to bring the families to Japan.

That Mr Kim Jong Il has admitted quilt is certainly progres further Pyongyang has done very little to unravel the abduction mystery, leave out to release a dubious status report in succession a dozen abductees. Japanese police authorities are duty-bound to demeanor their own investigations to find on the outside the whole truth.

sum of two units men -- a North Korean and a Japanese -- are already onward an international wanted list. A warrant was issued for the couple last year. Sin Guan Su is suspected of being involved indirectly in a June 1980 abduction case. Kimihiro Uomoto, common of the Red Army faction members who hijacked a Japanese jetliner to North Korea in 1970 is linked to a July 1983 case.

The NPA has with equal reason far identified 10 cases involving 15 Japanese nationals. However, the association of kidnap victims and other related collections believe more people must have been abducted. Their belief appears well-grounded, considering the fact, acknowledged on Pyongyang, that abductions had been perpetrated systematically subordinate to orders from top leaders.

Investigations are bounce to be difficult, but the securing of a warrant for Kim Se Ho cannot moreover raise expectations that the whole mystery surrounding these state-sponsored abductions, including details of Pyongyang's involvement, will eventually be due [i]or[/i] owing to light.

(Jan. 11)

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