Japan refuses to discuss better relations with North Korea, demanding a full resolution of North Korea's kidnapings. Japanese were kidnaped from coastal areas and forced to teach Japanese to spies.

Of course, North Korea should resolve the matter of the kidnappings. If the other kidnaped Japanese people died before 2002, North Korea should do the right thing, whatever is appropriate in such as case.

Japan should also resolve the matter of the women conscripted as prostitutes during World War II. The one crime doesn't justify the other, and they are not related; but since each country owes the other an apology, it may be a lot easier to do this if they do it at the same time.