S.Korean concerned about Japan's possible sanction against DPRK

South Korea's foreign minister expressed concern Wednesday about the growing calls in Japan for sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea DPRK) over its abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago, according to report of South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

"Our government understands Japan's position on the abduction issue and hopes it will be resolved at an early date through serious talks between Japan and North Korea (DPRK)," Ban Ki-moon was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

However, the South Korean top diplomat voiced concern that the sanction move may complicate efforts to solve the standoff over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

"It is not desirable for the issue to develop in a direction that affects efforts to reopen the six-party talks and resolve the nuclear issue. We believe it won't," he said.

Recently, calls have been growing in Japan for sanctions against Pyongyang after tests showed that human remains Pyongyang claimed were those of a Japanese kidnapping victim turned out to be someone else's.

On last Friday, a group of lawmakers from Japan's ruling party and a lower house committee passed separate resolutions calling for a freeze in humanitarian aid to the DPRK and a threat of economic sanctions.

The six-party nuclear talks is being in a deadlock after three rounds of sessions held. Up to now, relating countries have not set date to reopen the fourth round of six-party nuclear talks.

Source: Xinhua