>>This is just too weird.
>>
>>http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=%7B7C628A92-6C64-488E-AD05-733FDEE9746C%7D
>>http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021015_108.html
>
>Am I reading this right in that these victims have to return to N Korea in a couple of weeks, and that their children had to remain in N Korea to assure their return? This is outrageous. I hope the Japanese gov't puts the screws to these cretins.

Their spouses and children remained in North Korea, apparently awaiting passports. In reality, the families appear to be hostages.