Junichiro Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, is considering a second visit to Pyongyang to fetch the family members of former victims of abduction repatriated to Japan. His proposal is, however, causing controversy within his party.

Shinzo Abe, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, said yesterday that any visit would be "a grave decision", since the international community would interpret it as virtual diplomatic recognition of the communist country.