TOYAKO, Hokkaido — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda asked Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday to urge North Korea to resolve the abduction dispute, a senior Japanese official said.

In response, Hu said he understands the sentiment of the Japanese public over the issue, and Beijing will proceed in an "appropriate" way, without elaborating further, according to the official who briefed reporters.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit.