The issue of the North Korean abductions is one of the most thorny issues between Japan and North Korea.  I saw the documentary, The Megumi Yokota Story, on that subject at the Cleveland International Film Festival in 2006 (it turns out that it will be broadcast on U.S. Public television in a few weeks). In a nutshell, in 1977, 13-year old Megumi was abducted in Japan by North Koreans for the purpose of teaching their spies how to speak Japanese fluently to be more effective spies. She was actually one of at least 13 Japanese who were abducted. Now the Daily Mainichi reports a small development in the case. North Korea maintains that Megumi died in April, 1994 but an eyewitness is now saying that he saw her at least 2 months after that. The mystery (and heartache for the family) continues…