(VOVworld) - In talks earlier this week, Japan called on North Korea to provide "convincing evidence" to back the results of its investigations into Japanese nationals abducted decades ago.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Photo: AFP)

Tokyo put Pyongyang on notice that Japan is wary of North Korea presenting false information, as it did in past investigations of 12 Japanese nationals officially recognized by the Japanese government as abductees. After two working days with North Korean officials in Pyongyang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said North Korea affirmed that it would carefully investigate the situation of the abductees despite previous results. In 2002, North Korea admitted abducting 13 Japanese, 8 of whom died in North Korea, 5 others were returned to Japan. Meanwhile, Japan said 17 Japanese were abducted asking Pyongyang to continue investigation and return another 12 abductees.