TOKYO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Japan is urging the United States to keep North Korea on its list of states sponsoring terrorism despite the nuclear deal, Tokyo news reports said Wednesday.
North Korea should remain on the U.S. list until the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals is resolved, Tokyo's top spokesman said, according to Kyodo news agency.
"The (nuclear) agreement was to begin the process of removing the designation, not on removing it (immediately)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki was quoted as saying. "The stance that resolving the abduction issue remains an important factor is unchanged," he said.
Japan has also ruled out any funding for the nuclear agreement, reached Tuesday in six-nation talks that included Tokyo, until the communist North resolves the kidnapping issue.
Under the deal, North Korea would receive massive energy aid from the other five countries -- South Korea, United States, Russia, China and Japan -- in return for its nuclear disarmament steps.
