It is understood that North Korea approached former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in May, 2010 to propose the establishment of a committee to reinvestigate kidnappings on condition that certain sanctions be loosened, according to a report carried by Kyodo News on December 4th.
Hatoyama reportedly saw the potential for progress in resolving the kidnapping issue and set out to select a team of delegates to visit the country, however following his resignation in June the establishment of the committee apparently fell apart.
The North Korean overture came at a time when Pyongyang was facing stark international condemnation for the sinking of the Cheonan corvette in March, and Japan was standing alongside the US and South Korea in intensifying pressure on North Korea. This appears to have led to North Korean authorities approaching Japanese officials in an attempt to secure a breakthrough.
Hatoyama acknowledged the North Korean proposal in an interview with Kyodo, saying he believed it would have been enormously worthwhile had it led to progress in the kidnapping issue.
