Clinton pleads for abducted Japanese

TOKYO, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton raised the issue of abducted Japanese nationals on his North Korea trip, a Japanese official said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters Thursday a U.S. official called him to say Clinton, who made a day stop in North Korea Wednesday, discussed the issue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, Kyodo News reported. The Japanese official did not name the U.S. official.

Clinton, who won the release of two U.S. journalists held in North Korea since March, urged Kim to work on the abduction issue and launch a re-investigation into the kidnappings under terms of an agreement between North Korea and Japan, Kawamura said, Kyodo reported.

Kawamura quoted the U.S. official as saying Kim made no response. He said he thanked the U.S. official for Clinton's efforts.

Kawamura said the U.S. official also told him Clinton's mission was to win the release of the two journalists and that no other issue including North Korea's nuclear program was discussed between Clinton and Kim.