日本将部分取消对朝鲜的制裁

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.日本同意部分取消对朝鲜的制裁措施，目前日本和朝鲜继续就被平壤绑架的日本公民问题进行会谈。

日本首相安倍晋三星期四说，这一举措代表着“全面解决”绑架日本公民问题的开端。安倍晋三没有说明取消制裁的具体项目和时间。

东京和平壤本星期在朝鲜驻北京使馆举行会谈，讨论被绑架的日本公民问题。长期以来，这一问题是妨碍日朝关系的主要因素。日本和朝鲜没有正式邦交。

朝鲜2002年承认曾绑架13名日本公民，让他们为朝鲜间谍教授日本文化。五名被绑架的日本公民已经返回日本。朝鲜说，其他人已经死亡，但很多日本人怀疑至少还有12名日本公民被绑架。