Japan has extended sanctions against North Korea for an additional six months.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura says North Korea has not shown progress on the nuclear issue and on the abductions of Japanese nationals.

In a news conference Friday, Koumura said, however, his government was ready to lift the ban anytime if the North shows progress.

He said Tokyo may scrap all or a portion of the sanctions if Pyongyang takes concrete, positive action on the abduction, nuclear and missile issues.

The sanctions, which were set to expire Sunday, ban imports from North Korea and bar its ships from calling at Japanese ports.

Tokyo has extended the sanctions three times.