They say they will not believe their daughter is dead until it is scientifically proven.

The parents of Megumi Yokota, an abductee who North Korea claims died 10 years ago, admitted Thursday they were ``scared'' of the outcome of DNA and pathology tests on remains brought back from Pyongyang.

The couple have been waiting for the return of their daughter since she was snatched by North Korean agents from Niigata Prefecture 27 years ago when she was 13 years old.

On Monday, Japanese officials returned from talks in Pyongyang with what North Korea says are Megumi's remains.

In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun on Thursday, Shigeru Yokota, 72, and his wife, Sakie, 68, said until the remains are verified, they will not give up their hope.

The couple said they will continue to believe Megumi is alive until the contrary is proven-and continue their almost three decade-long battle for her rescue.

``There are three possible outcomes,'' Shigeru said. ``The remains are Megumi's; the remains are someone else's; or they can't be identified.

``We are ready to accept the results, once they come out,'' he added, visibly shaken.

After the couple were shown an urn wrapped in a white cloth at a Tokyo hotel on Monday, Sakie refused to believe the remains were those of her daughter.

Later she explained: ``If we just lapped up everything North Korea told us, no questions asked, what would happen to our long years of suffering?

``We have been asking for (Megumi's) return. We've wanted her back alive, no matter how bad a shape she was in,'' Sakie said.

She added that she believed Pyongyang is trying to shock abductee family members into giving up their search.

Japanese officials also brought other ``proof'' of Megumi's fate, including medical records and photos.

However, experts believe at least one of the photos that shows a grown-up smiling Megumi could be a composite.

They say there are contradicting shadows in the background.

``Maybe North Korea wants to curb Japanese antagonism by offering the image of a `happy Megumi who died, but had a good life in North Korea,''' Shigeru said.

Sakie added: ``Her face looks a bit squarish, filled out (in one of the photos). I did get the impression that something was a bit off.''

Japanese officials also relayed Pyongyang's explanation of the circumstances surrounding their daughter's alleged suicide.

According to North Korean hospital officials, Megumi had taken a stroll inside hospital compounds with her doctor and two others on April 13, 1994, North Korean officials said.

When the doctor was called to an emergency, Megumi slipped away and headed into a wooded area behind the hospital, according to Pyongyang. There, she hanged herself from a pine tree using a rope she had probably made from bed sheets.(IHT/Asahi: November 20,2004)