Japan has urged North Korea to continue its investigation into the fates of Japanese citizens abducted by agents from the reclusive country after Pyongyang conveyed to Tokyo that its probe into the issue found no new information on the missing, sources familiar with bilateral relations said Saturday.
If North Korea accepts Japan's request, Tokyo will consider holding off on tightening sanctions for the time being, the sources said.
Japan rejected requests by Pyongyang during the secret working-level meetings, which started in July, to set up a body to share information with the North Korean team conducting the investigation. Tokyo plans to dispatch a team to Pyongyang to verify the results of the probe, they added.