A/HRC/4/41 page 34 persons. With regard to the other outstanding case concerning a national of the Republic of Korea who allegedly disappeared on the border between China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Government stated that it had undertaken an investigation into the case and that neither that incident nor any similar act had occurred in the border area. 154. In a reply dated 12 September 2006, the Government reported that in a recent press interview, the husband of one of the Japanese abductees confirmed that his wife was dead. Information from sources 155. In communications dated 24 April and 16 June 2006, the source reported that the abduction issue would continue to be pursued and had not yet been resolved. Summary of the situation prior to the period under review 156. In addition to the eight disappeared Japanese nationals abducted in the 1970s and 1980s, the case of the disappearance of a woman on the border between China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was reported to have occurred in 2004. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 157. In the past and during the period under review, the Working Group has transmitted nine cases to the Government, all of which remain outstanding. Observations 158. The Working Group hopes that the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will continue to take steps to clarify the outstanding cases. Democratic Republic of the Congo Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review 41 Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review Cases sent under Cases sent under the urgent action the standard procedure procedure 0 Number of cases on which the Government has replied 0 General allegation Prompt intervention letter Working Group request for a visit 0 Cases clarified during the period under review by: Government Non-governmental sources 0 Multiple replies on some cases N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 41 Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6-month rule) N/A Government response Government response Government response N/A N/A N/A 159. There was no activity during the period under review. A summary of the situation in the country is in the last report (E/CN.4/2006/56 and Corr.1).