 Japan, however, insists that North Korea first resolve its differences with South Korea over the question of bilateral nuclear inspections.Other points of contention are North Korea's refusal both to provide information about Japanese citizens who had migrated to North Korea with their Korean spouses in the 1960s, and the issue of Japanese soldiers taken prisoner by the Soviets during WWII and sent to North Korea.The abductions of Japanese citizens from Japan by agents of the North Korean government occurred during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983.