日本將部分取消對朝鮮的制裁

Japan has agreed to lift some sanctions against North Korea, as the two countries continue talks on Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said the move represents the start of a "comprehensive resolution" to the abduction issue. He provided no details on what sanctions would be lifted or when.

Tokyo and Pyongyang this week held talks at North Korea's embassy in Beijing to address the abductions, which have long been a major irritant to bilateral relations. The two countries do not have formal ties.

North Korea acknowledged in 2002 that it abducted 13 Japanese citizens to teach its spies about Japanese culture. Five of the abductees were returned. The North said the rest are dead, but many in Japan suspect at least a dozen more were kidnapped.日本同意部分取消對朝鮮的制裁措施，目前日本和朝鮮繼續就被平壤綁架的日本公民問題進行會談。

日本首相安倍晉三星期四說，這一舉措代表着“全面解決”綁架日本公民問題的開端。安倍晉三沒有說明取消制裁的具體項目和時間。

東京和平壤本星期在朝鮮駐北京使館舉行會談，討論被綁架的日本公民問題。長期以來，這一問題是妨礙日朝關係的主要因素。日本和朝鮮沒有正式邦交。

朝鮮2002年承認曾綁架13名日本公民，讓他們爲朝鮮間諜教授日本文化。五名被綁架的日本公民已經返回日本。朝鮮說，其他人已經死亡，但很多日本人懷疑至少還有12名日本公民被綁架。