Japan and North Korea held at least two informal working-level meetings in China in November on the fates of Japanese who were abducted by Pyongyang's agents in the 1970s and 1980s, a source familiar with the nations' relations said Friday.

The meetings were apparently the first since the Japanese government reshuffled diplomatic officials in charge of North Korean affairs in October.

The two sides held at least two rounds of talks in China, including at least one in Shanghai, according to the source.