It would give Japan more leverage with Pyongyang.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has drafted an outline for a bill to protect the rights of North Korean defectors, a move officials say could be used as another stick to deal with Pyongyang.

The proposal, compiled Thursday, is specifically aimed at assisting people fleeing North Korea and would provide support to nongovernmental organizations working to improve the state of human rights in North Korea.

Underlining the LDP's motives, the document says Pyongyang's past policy of abducting Japanese was a ``major violation of the human rights of the citizens of Japan.''

While calling for a continuation of efforts to resolve the abduction issue, the outline also mandates that the government report on abductee matters to the Diet.

The LDP will finalize the bill by the end of the month and decide whether to submit it to the Diet after determining what Pyongyang has done to improve ties, sources said.

The bill outline was drafted by a party body handling issues relating to the abduction issue. The body is headed by Shinzo Abe, acting secretary-general.

Regarding North Korean defectors, the proposal says they should be protected as they would clearly face persecution if returned to North Korea.

As a means of protecting defectors, the proposal says they should be brought to Japan or a third nation if they seek asylum at a Japanese embassy or consulate.

It also would allow those meeting certain criteria to settle in Japan if they wished, and provide support for their new lives here.

Officials in the foreign and justice ministries have been reluctant to provide support to North Korean defectors seeking asylum.

Their concern stems from how such actions would affect relations with the host nations of embassies and consulates, as well as difficulties in confirming the identities of those granted permission to enter Japan.(IHT/Asahi: February 5,2005)