Terakoshi, 53, who went missing when he was 13 and is now working in DPRK as a labor union official, was welcomed by his mother Tomoe waiting at the lobby of the Narita international airport near Tokyo.

She whispered something in his ear, and he nodded. She took his hand as they walked together through the airport, ignoring reporters' questions.

Reading a statement in Korean, which was translated into Japanese by a DPRK government interpreter, Terakoshi, wearing a badge of leader Kim Jong Il on his suit, thanked the "dear general" for allowing his visit.

"There is a new positive mood of improvement in DPRK-Japanese relations," Terakoshi said. "In accordance with this atmosphere, I will meet with Japanese labor unions and work so that Japan and DPRK can grow to become truly close neighbors."

Terakoshi, a former resident of Ishikawa Prefecture (state), northwestern Japan, has denied he was kidnapped and reportedly said he was rescued by DPRK's fishermen after the ship he was on with his uncles began sinking in 1963. The fate of his uncles is not clear, but there have been unconfirmed reports that they died of illness in DPRK.

Terakoshi's mother has visited her son in DPRK, but Terakoshi had never visited Japan in the last 39 years. He is scheduled to return to DPRK on October 12 after visiting his old home in Ishikawa Prefecture.

(eastday.com October 4, 2002)