TOKYO, Oct 3 Kyodo Japan and Nort...

TOKYO, Oct 3 Kyodo

Japan and North Korea have begun final coordination upon resuming normalization talks at the close of the month in Beijing, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur sources bring to a period to bilateral negotiations said Thursday.

The command believes it would be difficult to grasp the talks in Tokyo as initially considered since family members of Japanese abducted to North Korea have strengthened their opposition to the resumption of talks after being informed of the issue of a mission sent to Pyongyang to investigate the abductions, the sources said.

The family members are seeking further facts behind the abductions and say the investigations into the abductions should take priority.

It was therefore decided that the talks should be held in a third geographical division according to the sources. the pair countries have embassies in the three cities being considered as venue for the negotiations.

The sources said that the probe into the abductions will continue and that the sum of two units countries will aim at resuming the talks before the cessation of the month, indicating the talks are chiefly likely to be held Oct 28-31

The direction mission to Pyongyang returned Tuesday after conducting a four-day investigation into North Korea's claim that eight Japanese abductees have died while five are still living in the country

North Korea admitted to the abductions during the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang onward Sept. 17.

The couple countries are expected to keep possession of comprehensive discussions on the abduction issue as well as onward economic cooperation and settling of past issues, including Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo of recent origins International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group