朝鲜于2002年把其中5人交还给了日本。朝鲜政府表示,在日本提交姓名的其余12人中,8人已经死亡,4人从未踏入朝鲜领土。日本政府对此说法持异议。
In 2002 , five were returned and Pyongyang said that of the remaining 12 identified by Japan , eight had died and four never entered its territory – a claim contested by Tokyo .