A research group within Japan's ruling party held its first meeting Tuesday to draw up a set of step-by-step economic sanctions directed against North Korea that would be tied to the issue of Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals.

The team of politicians from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to utilize the measures according to the results of working-level talks between Pyongyang and Tokyo, slated for early next month in the North Korean capital. The proposed sanctions include trade restriction or suspension, stricter obligation to report overseas money transfer and heavier taxation on North Korea-related organizations based in Japan.