No "new" solution has been achieved for the abduction issue in the first day of the bilateral talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Japan, DPRK chief delegate said in Beijing Thursday.

Song Il-Ho, also vice director of the Asian Affairs Department of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, told reporters that the two sides had deep discussions on a number of issues left over by history including the abduction issue.

Song added that the DPRK had also raised the issue of reparations for Japan's brutal colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

In response to a question on whether there is a new proposal for the abduction issue, Song said "no".

The two sides will continue the one-on-one talks on Friday.

The DPRK and Japan started their bilateral talks in the Chinese capital Thursday morning, aiming to settle the abduction issue and Japan's wartime compensation to the DPRK, according to Song earlier Thursday.

Diplomatic sources here said the talks are expected to last at least two days.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)