Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ended a first day of talks yesterday on Pyongyang's nuclear program, as well as its past abductions of Japanese citizens which Tokyo says must be resolved for it to open diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.

Envoys from the countries are meeting for two days in the Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator, as part of several "working group" sessions required under Six-Party Talks on the DPRK's nuclear disarmament.

Japan was expected to take a hard line on the abduction issue, which has overshadowed efforts to establish diplomatic ties.