North Korean leader Kim Jong-il gave direct orders for the bizarre abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 80s, a Japanese newspaper claims.

The Asahi Shimbun cited a Japanese government agency study saying that Kim, who held the post of secretary of the Workers' Party at the time, had direct control over the foreign intelligence division which is believed to be responsible for the kidnappings.

The daily says the Japanese government has reasons to believe that Kim, who by that time had been confirmed as his father's successor, either gave direct orders for the abductions or at least had some knowledge of the intelligence division's operations.