Japanese and North Korean Red Cross officials met today (Monday) to discuss the return of the remains of Japanese nationals to their native soil.

The remains in question are mostly of Japanese who died in North Korea near the end of World War Two.

Government officials of both countries were present at the conference and met privately for about two hours on the sidelines.

Hot-button issues such kidnappings and North Korean missile launches are believed to have come up for discussion.

Red Cross officials last met to discuss the remains issue in November 2012.

Those talks led to higher-level government meetings on kidnappings, another lingering issue between the two nations.

North Korea kidnapped Japanese and Korean citizens in the 1970s and 1980s as part of a strategy to train spies.

Most victims are still unaccounted for.

North Korea’s latest missile launch added tension to the negotiations.

Two SCUD missiles were fired early this morning (Monday) into the Sea of Japan.

A South Korean Defense Ministry official called the move a threat to the safety of the Korean people.

Last Thursday, North Korea also fired missiles in protest of joint military drills by the US and South Korea.

Prime Minister Abe said he would do everything possible to get North Korean officials to cooperate in resolving the issues between the two nations.