Dialogue on the remains of Japanese found in the territory of the DPRK was held at the request of the Japanese side. Both sides deepened understanding at the talks.

As known, the issue of the remains of Japanese in the DPRK is a business-like and humanitarian issue for the repatriation of the remains of Japanese who met deaths in Korea during the Second World War.

But the Japanese authorities are taking attitude quite contrary to the purport of the talks.

Foreign Minister Genba, Minister in charge of the abduction issue Matsubara and other authorities said such absurd remarks that "there should not be such happening as sidestepping the abduction issue from the negotiations" and "there may be a trick to shelve the abduction issue by raising the issue of the remains".

Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura, in particular, said at a press conference that "there are several pending issues in relations between the two countries, not only the issue of remains of Japanese but the abduction issue. Japan is of the stand that the abduction issue should be included in the agenda items".

This shows the Japanese government's insincere approach toward the settlement of the issue of remains and is a clear proof that it is chilling the atmosphere of the talks of its own accord.

The right-wing forces of Japan described the issue of remains as one for "money-making", disclosing its vulgarity. Clear is its true intention to mix the issue of remains with the "abduction issue" and thus use the talks for meeting its sinister political purposes.

The issue of the remains is, in fact, a humanitarian work.

It is for this reason that Red Cross organizations whose mission is to respect the human rights on the principles of impartiality, neutrality and universality are in charge of the issue.

This year the DPRK side informed the Japanese side of the discovery of a number of remains supposed to be those of Japanese at project sites and other places.

At the recent talks the DPRK informed the Japanese side of the area where the unearthing of the remains is under way and the number of remains that have been discovered so far and showed its willingness to welcome the visit to graves by the bereaved families and the visit to the DPRK by those concerned of the Red Cross organization.

There have not been such visits for nearly 70 years.

In fact, the settlement of the issue of remains is needed for Japan.

Japan will get nothing from politicizing the humanitarian issue.

The Japanese government should own full responsibility in case the remains of a number of Japanese are washed away due to its insincerity, triggering off the resentment of the Japanese.