Japanese sanctions on North Korea will be extended for two more years, due to a lack of progress during talks on Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang.
North Korea says it has returned everyone who was still alive but Japan disputed this.
Last year, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eased sanctions, including remittance and travel bans, amid hope of progress during talks.
Japanese civilians were kidnapped in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in language and culture.
North Korea admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese nationals and allowed five to return to Japan in 2002 and later released their children, but says the other eight died.