North Korea has said it will not comply with Tokyo's request for a resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by the North decades ago unless Tokyo lifts unilateral economic sanctions, sources close to bilateral ties said Thursday.

Pyongyang's demand to Japan was made during behind-the-scenes talks regarding the abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, and is viewed possibly as a condition for resuming investigations into the fate of the victims, the sources said.

But it remains uncertain whether Japan will heed North Korea's call as it continues to seek comprehensive resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues.