TOKYO, September 30, SPA -- The Japanese government plans to extend its economic sanctions against North Korea for another six months because of little progress in the issue of Japanesenationals kidnapped by the communist state, a media reportsaid Sunday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reportersthat the government plans to keep the sanctions in place,which were first ordered last October in the wake ofPyongyang's nuclear test, Kyodo News agency reported. «We are not in a situation in which we can stop or easethe sanctions,» said Machimura, adding that there has beenno progress in the abduction issue. Officials at the Prime Minister's office were notavailable Sunday. The current measures, extended in April for six months,will now expire in mid-October, the Associated Press reported. The measures include closing ports to North Korean shipsand banning the import of North Korean goods. The abduction issue has been a main sticking point for thetwo countries which have no diplomatic ties. North Korea acknowledged in 2002 that it kidnapped 13Japanese citizens in the 1970s and '80s. Pyongyang sentfive of them home later that year, but insisted the restwere dead. Japan has demanded proof and says more of its citizens mayhave been taken. It has also refused to provide energy andeconomic aid to North Korea or normalize relations unlessprogress is made on resolving the issue.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/486965