North Korea Releases Two Japanese Detained Last Year, Matsubara Says

Japan said North Korea released two Japanese citizens arrested last year, in what may signal a thaw in relations under new leader Kim Jong Un.

The two men, who were detained last March, returned to Japan this week, Jin Matsubara, head of the National Public Safety Commission, told reporters today in Tokyo. North Korea said in May that Hidehiko Abe and Takumi Hirooka were taken into custody on charges of violating the totalitarian state’s drug and counterfeiting laws.

“This may mark a change under the new regime,” Matsubara said. Kim Jong Un became North Korea’s leader in December after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il.

Japan is part of stalled six-nation negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. The Japanese government is also seeking information on Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, who said two days ago that the new North Korean regime poses risks and opportunities, said earlier today that Japan had asked the government in Pyongyang to release the two men on humanitarian grounds.

To contact the reporters on this story: Sachiko Sakamaki in Tokyo at Ssakamaki1@bloomberg.net;

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Hirschberg in Hong Kong at phirschberg@bloomberg.net

• LinkedIn
• Google +1
• Print
• QUEUE