As yet there is no end in sight to the abduction issue involving Japanese citizens. North Korea -- whose agents kidnapped them in the 1970s and 1980s -- must take the initiative to break the deadlock, but it continues to reject any formal negotiation. To get Pyongyang moving forward, Tokyo is now poised to impose economic sanctions, such as halting remittances, restricting trade and freezing assets.

The sanctions policy would be based on the revision to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law, which gained Diet approval on Monday. Sanctions will be imposed unilaterally, without international cooperation, if the government decides that such action is needed to "maintain Japan's peace and security." Cabinet approval is all that is required to implement the decision.

Pyongyang has indicated a certain flexibility since December, such as inviting a Diet member to visit Beijing for informal talks. But, as always, its real intention is anyone's guess. While sending mixed signals, it keeps the door shut on government-to-government talks.