The authority of the committee is that it will be invested with special mandate from the National Defence Commission of the DPRK to investigate all institutions and mobilize relevant institutions and persons concerned for the investigation any time when necessary.

The committee will be staffed with about 30 officials of relevant institutions including the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of People's Security, the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces,

and people's power bodies of the DPRK and has the following four panels in Pyongyang and branches in relevant cities and counties in all provinces.

Panels include a panel for remains of Japanese, a panel for remaining Japanese and Japanese spouses, a panel for abducted Japanese and a panel for missing Japanese.

Branches will be formed with officials of relevant institutions including the Ministry of Security and people's power bodies.

Key members of the special investigation committee are as follows:

Chairman: So Tae Ha, counselor for security of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and vice-minister of State Security.

Vice-Chairman: Kim Myong Chol, counselor of the Ministry of State Security

Vice-Chairman: Pak Yong Sik, department director of the Ministry of People's Security

Chief of the panel for remains of Japanese: Kim Hyon Chol, department director of the Ministry of Land and Environment Protection

Chief of the panel for remaining Japanese and Japanese spouses: Ri Ho Rim, secretary general of the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK

Chief of the panel for abducted Japanese: Kang Song Nam, department director of the Ministry of State Security

Chief of the panel for missing Japanese: Pak Yong Sik, department director of People's Security (He also holds the post of vice-chairman of the committee)

Chiefs of branches: vice-directors of provincial, city and county departments of the Ministry of Security

The committee shall operate under a well-regulated command system of the Center.

Not just one field concerned should be prioritized but all fields should be investigated in a simultaneous and parallel manner and the investigation will be conducted by way of holding interview, hearing testimony and touring the relevant field.

To ensure objectivity and transparency of the investigation, personnel concerned of the Japanese side will be allowed to visit the DPRK at a time deemed necessary.

The orientation of activities of panels is as follows:

- Panel for remains of Japanese

It will take measures concerning various places where remains of Japanese are buried across the territory of the DPRK and conduct field survey and trial excavation on the basis of the existing information, testimonies, etc. and consult and take steps for handling remains.

- panel for remaining Japanese and Japanese spouses

Confirmation will be made through register books of citizens kept by people's security institutions and relevant people's committees and through information provided by those concerned and hearing testimonies made by witnesses, and measures will be taken.

- panel for abducted Japanese

It will reinvestigate the abductees recognized by the Japanese government and confirm all records of each person from his or her entry.

-panel for missing Japanese

The entry into the DPRK of those who were reported missing and their identities will be confirmed by use of register books of citizens kept by the institutions of people's security while taking the information provided by the Japanese side for reference.