The government is revamping its team on the abduction issue as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks a breakthrough in its dealings with North Korea.
Japan has been pressuring North Korea to report on its latest investigation into the whereabouts of all Japanese residing in the country, part of a bilateral agreement intended to solve the mystery of what happened to several Japanese abducted decades ago by the North.
But no major progress has been reported despite the passing of what Japanese officials said was the September deadline for the report.