North Korea earlier this year told Japan through informal channels that it would allow the relatives of five repatriated Japanese to leave the country if Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi goes to Pyongyang to pick them up, government sources said Sunday.
The revelation comes on the heels of media reports that the prime minister is contemplating such a visit to break the impasse in the abduction issue.
According to the sources, the North Korean side made the suggestion on "several occasions" in March and April. They added they believe the move was triggered by Pyongyang's desire to improve bilateral ties and extract much-needed economic aid from Japan.