The Japanese government said Monday that it would dispatch a group of officials to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to check the latter's investigation into the whereabouts of several Japanese it abducted decades ago.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference that the group would include Junichi Ihara, director general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Foreign Ministry, adding the time when they will be sent has not yet been decided, reported local media.

The DPRK has agreed in May to launch a high-level investigation team to find out whereabouts of Japanese nationals it abducted in the 1970s to 1980s and several abductees returned to Japan after former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang.

Responding to the DPRK's move, Japan has announced to lift parts of its unilateral sanctions against the country but added that it could impose the sanctions again if Japan find out the DPRK's investigation was to buy time.

According to their agreement, the DPRK should release its first report on the probe sometime from late summer to early fall, but it said last month that its probe is still at an early stage and could only provide initial findings, said Japan's Kyodo News.