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PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - JUL 4: North Koreans appeared to have little interest in their country's negotiations with Japan, as Saturday marked the first anniversary of Pyongyang's launch of a fresh investigation into the whereabouts of Japanese nationals it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s. On July 4, 2014, North Korea's new institution, given a "special mandate" from the National Defense Commission led by leader Kim Jong Un, reopened the investigation of the abduction issue. In return, Japan lifted some of its unilateral sanctions against North Korea, with which it has never had diplomatic relations, following the resumption of official talks between them more than a year ago. North Korea has indicated that it will complete the investigation within a year or so. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed Friday that Tokyo has been told by Pyongyang that it needs more time to wrap up the probe. Amid the lack of progress, North Korea's official media have been quiet on recent activities by its so-called special investigation committee. Securing the return of all Japanese abductees from North Korea is one of Abe's most cherished political goals. But his government has been struggling to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough in the search for the victims, while their aging parents are increasingly venting frustration over the deadlock. Touching on Japan's 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula, Kim Yong Bong, 35, who works for the Pyongyang city government, said that bilateral relations could improve if Japan first settled its crimes committed during the period.