The families of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea met for the first time with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday and demanded that the government confirm the information from the Stalinist state regarding the fates of the missing people.
During the hourlong meeting, the families criticized the government for unquestioningly accepting the information provided by Pyongyang on Sept. 17, when Koizumi held a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
A list handed over by North Korea before the summit contained the names, dates of birth and dates of death of eight Japanese. The list also said five abducted Japanese were alive in North Korea.