U.S. urges DPRK, Japan to resolve abduction issue

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States said Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should work with Japan to try to resolve the abduction issue.

"We want Japan and the DPRK to continue to work on this issue together. The DPRK needs to honor its commitments to Japan and provide them resolution on this issue," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has criticized the United States for the removal of the DPRK from the list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism.

Citing the abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s as well as the nuclear issue, the Japanese government extended its unilateral sanctions on the DPRK earlier this month.