Red Cross officials from Japan and North Korea will meet on Monday to discuss returning the remains of Japanese military and civilian personnel who died on the Korean Peninsula in the closing stages of the Second World War. The move has raised speculation that Pyongyang is attempting to pursue a policy of omnidirectional diplomacy towards its neighbors.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the meeting – the first such for 18 months  – will take place on March 3 in the Chinese city of Shenyang.