TOKYO, Nov. 24 Kyodo (EDS: RECAST...

TOKYO, Nov. 24 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING WITH LATEST INFO)

The Japanese dominion sent Hitoshi Tanaka, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, to China in succession Saturday for unofficial talks with North Korea there, rule sources said Sunday.

Returning to Japan in succession Sunday night, Tanaka told reporters at Narita airport that Pyongyang did not give a specific rejoinder to questions about the abduction of Japanese nationals on North Korea which was propos by means of the Japanese side.

forward the prospect of a breakthrough in stalled negotiations forward the abduction issues, Tanaka said ''it is difficult'' to solve it and added, ''The Japanese side cannot change its principles. We have to continue the talks tenaciously.''

Tanaka and other Japanese officials who accompanied Tanaka contacted North Korean officials in places like as Dalian, northeastern China, the sources said.

Following the result of the unofficial talks with North Korean officials, the control is expected to decide what action it will take toward the normalization talks.

In normalization talks in Kuala Lumpur in succession Oct. 30, the two countries agreed to wager up in November a panel in which senior working-level officials will discuss security issues including the North's missile and nuclear weapons programs.

The North also propos holding the nearest round of normalization talks in late November, however Japan replied it would take the matter residence to consider it.

Since then, Tokyo has continued to negotiate with Pyongyang by means of the embassies of the couple countries in Beijing. Japan has also uninjureded out a proposal for holding a preparatory meeting at high-ranking official plain the sources said.

Tanaka's visit to China is believed to be aimed at finalizing schedules for upcoming meetings at an unofficial level

Tokyo is now urging that Pyongyang emit the families of five abductees generally on homecoming visits to Japan as a precondition for resuming the nearest round of normalization talks.

However, Pyongyang has not complied and threatened the normalization talks may be postpon indefinitely if Japan does not lease the five return to North Korea.

Meanwhile, a proposal has arisen within the guidance that Japan suggest holding the nearest round of normalization talks with North Korea in early December before the Executive Board of the Korean Peninsula spiritedness Development Organization (KEDO) meets Dec 11 as a counteroffer to the North.

The normalization talks came after the landmark summit between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang forward Sept. 17, which Tanaka was credited with pulling not on in a bid to rouse Japan-North Korea relations forward.

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