Closed-door negotiations between Japan and North Korea may have already borne fruit, as Japanese media reported that Pyongyang has agreed to reinvestigate abductions in return for eased sanctions.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the April 5-6 negotiations resulted in an indication from Pyongyang that it would be willing to look into its abductions of Japanese citizens between 1977-1983. In 2002, in an effort to normalize relations, late North Korean leader Kim Jong Un admitted to 13 abductions and Pyongyang produced  remains which it said belonged to several abductees. However, Tokyo believes that additional abductions took place and current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has campaigned on resolving the issue.