North Korea, Japan discuss WWII soldiers' remains

Osamu Tasaka, left, director general of the International Department at the Japanese Red Cross, speaks during a press conference after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart in Beijing, China, on Friday. Red Cross officials from Japan and North Korea met in Beijing to discuss the possible repatriation of the remains of Japanese who died in North Korea at the end of World War II. (AP/Alexander F. Yuan)

Japanese and North Korean Red Cross officials say they plan to get their governments involved in negotiations over the retrieval of the remains of Japanese soldiers buried in North Korea.

Japanese Red Cross Society Director-General Osamu Tasaka said Friday he will soon seek his government's involvement and felt optimistic of its participation.

He was in Beijing where Red Cross officials from the countries met for the first time in 10 years to discuss whether the remains of the Japanese soldiers who fought in World War II can be returned home.

The countries do not have diplomatic relations, and a key issue in this matter is getting the governments involved.

Ri Ho Rim, secretary general of North Korea's Red Cross Society, called the negotiations sincere.