TOKYO, April 20 (UPI) -- The United States reportedly plans to mention for the first time North Korea's kidnapping of 13 Japanese citizens in its annual report on global terrorism.
The Kyodo News Service cites U.S. government sources saying the report will state North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il admitted the abductions when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang in 2002. North Korea says eight of the Japanese have died in North Korea and the other five were allowed to return home.
Adding the kidnappings to the report means North Korea will remain on the U.S. list of "state supporters of terrorism" until the issue is resolved. The Japanese government has been urging the listing of the kidnappings at the request of the families of the missing.
