Six Japanese opposition lawmakers leave for DPRK

TOKYO - A group of six Japanese opposition lawmakers, including the wrestler-turned-politician Antonio Inoki, on Wednesday left Tokyo for Pyongyang on bilateral relations, according to local media.

The lawmakers will arrive at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday with an agenda to visit an office of Inoki's non-profit organization seeking peace through sports in Pyongyang, reported Japan's Kyodo News.

They are also expected to pay a visit to DPRK's Kaesong industrial zone and hold talks with officials from the country's Workers' Party of Korea.

Inoki, a member of Japan's House of Concillors from the Japan Restoration Party, visited the DPRK in November last year and was punished by the chamber for the unauthorized visit.

The Japanese government on Monday approved Inoki's visit to the DPRK, saying it has no plans to prevent Inoki's or other lawmakers ' trips.

The trip came after that Japan in last week lifted some sanctions imposed on the DPRK after their deadlock abduction issue has made progress as the DPRK launched a high-level team to re- investigate whereabouts of Japanese it abducted in the 1970s ad 1980s.

The lawmakers that groups five members of the Japan Restoration party and one from Your Party, will return to Japan on Monday, reported Kyodo.