Minister of Justice Song Jeong-ho and his Japanese counterpart Mayumi Murayama signed a mutual extradition treaty in the government complex in Kwachon, south of Seoul, Monday. The two ministers pledged to get National Assembly and Diet ratification before the start of the World Cup Finals. The treaty covers all areas except political persecution cases.

According to the ministry, 86 of 660 suspects on the wanted list, who fled overseas, are believed to be in Japan.

In related news the ministers also agreed to suspend the need for visas for travel between the two countries for 47 days covering the World Cup. Song also proposed that the two allow each other's citizens to stay in their respective countries for 30 days without the need for a visa.

(Ahn Seok-bae, sbahn@chosun.com )