Relatives of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea during the 1970s and 80s have spoken of their anguish at finding out that eight of the 12 are now dead.

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, admitted for the first time on Tuesday that his country had kidnapped the 12 Japanese to help its espionage efforts.

North Korea had denied the abductions

He was speaking during an unprecedented summit with the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi.

The families of those missing had been hoping the meeting would result in them being reunited.

"I'd been waiting to hear some good news but what we got was the extremely disappointing news of my daughter's death," said Shigeru Yokota, whose daughter Megumi was kidnapped in 1977 when she was only 13.

"What I really want to know is why she ended up in North Korea and how she died."

Mr Yokota and his wife Sakie are also grappling with the news that Megumi married and had a daughter, who is still alive.

Kazuo Okudo, whose daughter Shiho disappeared in 1978, aged 22, said: "I never expected that we would hold this press conference shedding tears."

Observers say Mr Koizumi could face a backlash from the Japanese public if he presses on with normalisation talks with North Korea.

But Mr Koizumi said he had to, not just for regional peace, but for stability in the world.

Pre-condition

Japan had been demanding answers over its missing citizens as a pre-condition for talks over normalising relations with North Korea.

North Korea had previously denied any involvement in the disappearances.

	Japan's missing Eight Japanese confirmed dead Four still alive in North Korea Kim Jong-il says he has punished the culprits See also: Profiles of the missing

"It is regretful and I want to frankly apologise," a Japanese official has quoted Mr Kim as saying.

Mr Kim also reportedly said that those responsible for the kidnappings had been "sternly punished".

Six out of 11 people, whom Tokyo has long claimed were abducted, were confirmed to have died in North Korea.

Four others are still alive, the North Koreans say, while they know nothing about one other citizen named as an abductee by Tokyo.

North Korea also admitted that two others who disappeared in Europe had died, while another unidentified individual was still alive.