A human rights expert on North Korea urged Tokyo on Thursday to use dialogue-particularly within a multilateral framework-rather than sanctions to resolve the abduction issue.

Vitit Muntarbhorn, special rapporteur for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, told reporters he would raise this and other issues when he submits a report to the commission later this month on Pyongyang's human rights record.

The Geneva-based UNCHR is expected to query North Korean delegates on issues raised in the report.

``Different countries have different approaches,'' Muntarbhorn said of calls within Japan for sanctions. ``I am working from a multilateral approach under the U.N. framework.''

The Thai law professor arrived in Japan on Feb. 24 to gather information on the abduction issue. He met with Foreign Ministry officials and kin of abductees the North says are dead.

Muntarbhorn will also visit Mongolia to assess the number of North Koreans who fled there via China.

Muntarbhorn's report will raise a range of issues-from the level of free speech and access to food and health care -to abductions and defections.

``I have had access to information that raises serious concern and cannot be seen as coincidental,'' he said.

While Pyongyang so far has not answered U.N. concerns about human rights violations, Muntarbhorn said he hoped the ``powers that be'' in Pyongyang would try to resolve outstanding issues, ``particularly the abduction issue.''(IHT/Asahi: March 4,2005)