A/HRC/28/71 Unification Preparation. This body is tasked with proposing ways to improve inter-Korean cooperation and prepare for peaceful unification. It recently proposed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea the holding of an “inter-Korean dialogue”6 to discuss issues of mutual interest, a proposal that the Special Rapporteur welcomes. He similarly welcomes the announcement made in January 2015 by the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that he would hold talks with the President of the Republic of Korea. This is an encouraging development as dialogue between the two countries and increased contact between people of both Koreas is of the utmost importance, in line with the commission of inquiry’s recommendations.7 18. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur was informed that dialogue between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the reunion of separated families had been interrupted once again by the latter. He hopes that the forthcoming talks between the two countries will enable progress on this key issue to resume, in the interest of those families. He welcomes the fact that the Republic of Korea had continued to provide humanitarian assistance prior to the announcement of the resumption of talks. 19. While on mission in the Republic of Korea, the Special Rapporteur’s attention was drawn to the issue of nationals of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being sent abroad by their Government to work under conditions that reportedly amount to forced labour. This is an issue of serious concern which the Special Rapporteur will examine in future reports. 2. Japan 20. The Special Rapporteur visited Japan from 19 to 23 January 2015. During his visit, he met with senior officials from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Abduction Issue, the National Police, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, and the Association of Members of Parliament dealing with abductions. He also met with members of the Association of Families of Abductees and other representatives of civil society, as well as members of the diplomatic community. 21. The Special Rapporteur was informed by the Japanese authorities that, in addition to the 12 known cases of abductees remaining to be returned to Japan, the national police agency was currently looking into 881 possible abduction cases attributable to the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea over the years. They represent 21 possible cases that are additional to the previous figure given in April 2014 by the Japanese authorities. 22. The Special Rapporteur was briefed on the latest developments in relation to the bilateral dialogue started in 2014 between the Governments of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan. In May 2014, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea agreed to conduct a comprehensive, full-scale survey of all Japanese nationals in the country, including the remains and graves of the Japanese who had died on its territory before and after 1945 and the remaining Japanese, spouses, victims of abduction and the missing. It also agreed to keep Japan constantly updated on the results of the investigation. In return, Japan agreed to ease a number of sanctions it had imposed on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In October 2014, a delegation of senior Japanese officials went to Pyongyang to be apprised of the latest information in relation to the survey undertaken. 6 7 6 Press release from the Ministry of Unification, “New year plans on foundation building for unification by Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation” (30 December 2014), available from http://eng.unikorea.go.kr/content.do?cmsid=1834&cid=42033&mode=view. A/HRC/25/63, para. 91.