Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said today his diplomats were doing their utmost to win the handover of five North Korean asylum seekers after police dragged them from a consulate in north China eight days ago.
Japanese and Chinese officials appeared deadlocked over the issue although Japanese media reported for a second straight day that a deal was close to release the five, who were seized by Chinese guards yesterday after dashing into Japan's consulate in the northeastern city of Shenyang.
"We are putting our best efforts toward a swift resolution," Mr Koizumi told reporters.
Japan's top government spokesman, |Mr Yasuo Fukuda, said no agreement had been reached yet but said this did not mean the talks between the former foes had run into trouble.
"I can't comment on the specifics of what is being discussed," he told a news conference.
Japan has demanded that the North Koreans be handed over and that Beijing apologize for the incident, which Tokyo says violated diplomatic conventions. Japan has said repeatedly, however, that its first priority was a humanitarian solution.
China says its police received permission from Japanese consular staff to remove the asylum seekers.
Beijing and Tokyo yesterday denied reports of an agreement to send the five North Koreans, including a three-year-old girl, to a third country via Manila to end the diplomatic feud, which has jolted already tense ties.