Japan said Wednesday that it believes North Korea is behind the reported plan by four former members of the Red Army Faction to return home from North Korea for the first time since they hijacked a jet to Pyongyang in 1970.
"We should think the intentions of North Korea played a role," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, meanwhile, separately said, "We have asked (Pyongyang) to extradite them."
The remarks came as the former hijackers, who seized a Japan Airlines plane and forced it to fly to North Korea in 1970, released a statement calling on Tokyo to set up talks for their possible return to Japan.
Koizumi and Fukuda indicated the four, still wanted by Japanese police in connection with the hijacking, would be arrested on their return to Japan.
"They committed the serious crime of hijacking, so when they return to Japan, (essential) measures would be taken in line with Japanese laws," Fukuda said.
The prime minister said, "I believe proper measures will be taken."