Hiroshi Saito

The four photographs, reportedly brought out by North Korean defectors, were obtained by Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. in South Korea. TBS turned them over to a group investigating dozens of Japanese believed to have been abducted and possibly living in North Korea.

Kyoko Matsumoto

A forensics expert at the group's request examined the photos and determined that a man and woman in them probably are Hiroshi Saito and Kyoko Matsumoto.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda called the new evidence "a very powerful piece of information."

"We would like to ask North Korea firmly about these people whose names have newly emerged," Hosoda said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 22, 2005
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