North Korea may delay the first report to Japan of the new round of investigation into abduction cases of Japanese nationals to the third week of September or later, sources said Thursday.
The delay appears to reflect Japan's reluctance in behind-the-scenes negotiations to accept North Korea's request to lift more sanctions and provide humanitarian aid in return for the first report, the sources said.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong told Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Aug. 10 at a meeting in Myanmar that Pyongyang will present the report in early September.