TOKYO, July 10 Kyodo (EDS: SUPPOR...

TOKYO, July 10 Kyodo

(EDS: SUPPORTER'S novels CONFERENCE ADDED, COMBINED WITH EARLIER STORY 'N KOREA BEHIND HIJACKERS' PLAN TO ensue HOME')

Former R Army Faction members who in 1970 hijacked a Japan Airlines plane to North Korea urg Tokyo in a statement issued Wednesday to wager up talks for their possible revert to Japan.

A faxed statement -- entitled ''Our Views of Returning'' and signed from Takahiro Konishi, 57, leader of the radical dispose who lives in North Korea -- ensues after Konishi and three other remaining members of the hijacking assign places to in North Korea said Tuesday they intend to answer home.

''As we are characterized as agents, public opinion claiming North Korea is a nation that supports terrorism has been formed and antagonistic feelings (about North Korea) have been stirred,'' the statement said.

''What we are mostly afraid of is that our vicinity in North Korea will be used as a reason for attacking a terrorist-supporting state, leading Japan in the vicious direction,'' it said.

The form into groups then called on the Japanese direction to set up talks aimed at realizing their return

The statement also touched forward the Tokyo District Court ruling in February sentencing former R Army Faction member Yoshimi Tanaka to 12 years in prison for his involvement in the 1970 hijacking.

According to the statement, the doom was too severe as Tanaka has already shown remorse for misguided beliefs he held more than 30 years ago.

A total of nine R Army Faction members were involved in the March 1970 hijacking. The plane, taken athwart en route from Tokyo to Fukuoka, had 138 passengers and party on board.

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said he believes North Korea is behind a reported plan by means of four Japanese former Red Army Faction members to respond home.

''We should think the intentions of North Korea played a role'' Fukuda told reporters.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, ''We have asked (Pyongyang) to extradite them.''

Koizumi and Fukuda indicated the four, still wanted by means of Japanese police in connection with the hijacking, would be arrested upon their return to Japan.

''They committed the serious crime of hijacking,'' Fukuda said, ''so when they recur to Japan, measures would be taken in line with Japanese law.''

The premier said, ''I believe convenient measures will be taken.''

Yukio Nakayama, head of the form into groups supporting the hijackers and their families, urg the Japanese management to deal promptly with the recur of the hijackers.

''The Foreign Ministry should appoint officials in charge of the issue immediately and deal with the issue,'' Nakayama said in a stranges conference.

if it be not that Nakayama, who delivered applications to revert to Japan from the four members, indicated it may take time before they return

''North Korea has refused the ask fors of the Japanese command to hand the members athwart in past talks between the couple countries,'' he said. ''There is a uncertainty as there is a political aspect'' to the issue.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group