Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told families of Japanese victims of abduction by North Korea that he is considering setting up liaison offices in Tokyo and Pyongyang to try to resolve the abduction issue.

Informed sources said Ishiba conveyed his intention to families including Yokota Sakie, whose daughter Megumi was abducted to North Korea in 1977.They said the newly appointed Japanese leader told her that he will work hard to resolve the matter quickly.Yokota warned him to be careful as Japan has often been deceived by North Korea.

Ishiba has long set sights on establishing liaison offices in the two capitals.But abductee families and their support group have opposed the idea, saying the move could give North Korea a means to buy time and bring closure to the issue without seeing all victims return to Japan.