Japan will not impose economic sanctions on North Korea as long as it remains committed to solving issues related to the abduction of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang agents, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.
But Hosoda, a key policy formulator in long-standing talks with North Korea, also warned that the nation's patience could run out if negotiations drag on interminably.
The North Koreans "are saying they want to normalize the bilateral relationship while avoiding (economic sanctions). I don't think they intend to put an end to these issues while leaving them unresolved," Hosoda told reporters in a group interview this week.