North Korea has repeatedly showed its eagerness to the Japanese government about inviting to Pyongyang the parents of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea decades ago, to allow them to meet again with the abductee's daughter, according to sources.

Tokyo has declined the requests, made on an unofficial basis since summer 2014, because it suspects North Korea is trying to deflect attention from the lack of progress in its latest investigation into the abductions of Japanese nationals.

Sakie Yokota, the 79-year-old mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted at age 13 and is seen as a symbol of the long-unresolved issue, said: "I haven't heard such a story from the Japanese government. We are working hard to bring back Megumi and the others. If all the abductees return (to Japan), we will then be able to meet our grandchild freely."