JAPAN agreed to lift some sanctions against North Korea today in return for Pyongyang’s undertaking to open a new investigation into the fate of Japanese citizens it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that Tokyo would lift the sanctions after it confirms that a committee has been set up and has begun work. 

It will also consider possible humanitarian aid to North Korea depending on the progress of the investigation, which is expected to start in about three weeks.