TOKYO, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Thursday that it was "positive" for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to accept Japanese senior officials' visit.

    "North Korea (DPRK) is positive. I expect the talks to have a favorable outcome," Kawaguchi said at a press conference.

    Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka and Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, as well as three other ministry officials, headed for the DPRK Wednesday. The talks are expected to focus on the issue of abducted Japanese nationals and DPRK's nuclear development programs.

    The DPRK admitted at a summit meeting in 2002 that it abducted 13 Japanese from late 1970s to early 1980s.

    The DPRK said eight of them had died, a claim that Japan doubts,and let the remaining return to Japan for a visit while keeping back their family members. The five remained in Japan after the visit.

    Japan has been asking the DPRK to allow a reunion, while the DPRK accuses Japan of reneging on promise to return the five persons.

    The visit of Japanese officials came two weeks before the second round of six party talks over DPRK's nuclear development programs on Feb. 25, which involve China, the DPRK, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia. Japan insists that the abduction issue be included. Enditem