PYONGYANG -- The North Korean Red Cross confirmed Monday the whereabouts of six Japanese among the 49 Tokyo has demanded Pyongyang search for, but the six are not among the 11 Tokyo says were abducted.

The confirmation came during the second day of a two-day meeting between the Red Cross associations of the two countries. Officials from each delegation said progress was made in resolving long-standing disputes between the two nations' governments but that there was no breakthrough on the sensitive issue of Japanese citizens who Tokyo alleges were abducted by the North.

The meeting was meant to pave the way for government-level talks next week.