A/HRC/13/47 humanitarian aid through appropriate channels, subject to adequate monitoring in keeping with the international principle of “no access (to the victims), no aid”; (c) With the support of the international community, more efforts should be made to resolve satisfactorily the consequences of the Korean war, including the issue of prisoners of war, separated families, and the issue of abducted persons; family reunions should become a sustained process moving beyond short-term meetings to life-long reunification; (d) More open environments, linked with local communities, to help settle persons seeking asylum should be explored, attuned to social integration and inclusiveness; these can be complemented by programmes to bridge-build between different communities and by positive role models to improve the public’s understanding of the new arrivals; (e) Implementation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should be highlighted from the angle of prevention of abuses, protection of people’s rights and provision of remedies, interlinked with graduated measures from the United Nations system to ensure responsibility on the part of the authorities and to propel constructive changes. C. Japan 75. The Special Rapporteur visited Japan from 16 to 22 January 2010. 76. The new Government of Japan came to power in the latter half of 2009. Its direction on key concerns, particularly the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the abduction issue, are reflected in the words of an address made by Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister, before the General Assembly in September 2009: The DPRK’s nuclear tests and missile launches are a threat to the peace and stability not only of the region but also of the international community as a whole, and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. It is imperative that the DPRK comply fully with the relevant Security Council resolutions and that the international community implement these resolutions. Japan will continue its efforts to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. Japan seeks to normalize relations with the DPRK in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration [2002], through the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues of concern with the DPRK, including the abduction, nuclear and missile issues, and by sincerely settling “the unfortunate past”. In particular, regarding the abduction issue, constructive actions by the DPRK, including swiftly commencing a full investigation as agreed last year, will be an avenue towards progress in Japan-DPRK relations. If the DPRK takes such constructive and sincere actions, Japan is ready to respond positively.29 77. Currently, the Six-Party Talks targeted to denuclearizing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are stalled due to the intransigence of the country. Resumption of talks on this front would indeed help to provide positive space for humanitarian discourse and related action – directly or indirectly. From a human rights angle, the abduction question remains a primary concern between this country and Japan with international and regional implications. 78. At stake is the plight of many persons affected by the misdeeds of the country committed extraterritorially. There are 17 Japanese nationals listed officially as abducted by 29 18 See www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hatoyama/statement/200909/ehat_0924c_e.html. GE.10-10793

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