Relatives of kidnapped Japanese to return

American Charles Jenkins, a former US soldier accused of abandoning his unit in 1965, is married to one of the Japanese who were kidnapped and allowed to return home in 2002. He refused to return, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said. He could face extradition to the United States if he leaves the North.

What would happen to two other family members was not known.

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The decision came after Koizumi met in Pyongyang with Northern leader Kim Jong Il their first meeting since September 2002. Kyodo had quoted Kim as telling Koizumi that he could take the family members back with him on Saturday or afterward.

After that announcement, a Japanese official said Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid to North Korea, and $10 million worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

The agreement marked a breakthrough in relations between North Korea and Japan. Talks on normalising ties have been stalled by a stalemate over the fate of the family members.

Koizumi said Japan and North Korea must normalize their "abnormal" relations.

North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1980s and 70s. Pyongyang said that eight had died, but allowed the five survivors to return to Japan without their families in 2002.

Japan had pressed since then for the release of the eight family members left behind: seven children and Jenkins.

The former abductees gathered in Tokyo Friday to prepare to welcome their families home, expressing high hopes that their ordeal was finally coming to an end. They also urged Koizumi to find out more information about kidnapping victims who have died or are still unaccounted for.

At a news conference Saturday, the former kidnapping victims were asked about their preparations to receive their relatives if Koizumi manages to win a quick release.