N. Korean defector Hwang may visit Japan in early April+

TOKYO, March 28 Kyodo - Hwang Jang Yop, a former high-ranking North Korean official who defected to South Korea in 1997, is considering visiting Japan in the second week of April, several government sources said Saturday.

Hwang was a former secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and close aide to
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
During his possible stay in Japan, being initiated by Hiroshi Nakai, minister
in charge of abduction issues, Hwang would meet with Diet members as well as
families of abductees, according to the sources.
However, major developments in the abduction issue are not expected as Hwang
said he was not involved in kidnapping Japanese citizens to North Korea decades
ago.
Concerns remain in the government, meanwhile, that his visit to Japan may
further deteriorate bilateral ties with North Korea and dampen the expectations
for an early resumption of the stalled six-party talks over the Pyongyang
nuclear issue.
Given such circumstances, Nakai is expected to seek a decision by Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama early next week, the sources said.
Hwang's planned visit would come after he visits the United States in early
April at the invitation of a private organization.
==Kyodo