Across Asia: Japan

Help may be offered to DPRK

Japan may provide help to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in scrapping its nuclear program but it still refuses to give energy assistance because of a feud over abducted Japanese citizens, the top government spokesman said yesterday.

Japan has refused to provide energy aid despite Washington's decision last week to remove Pyongyang from a US terrorism blacklist after the two countries agreed on the verification measures for its nuclear program.