Japan pledges to continue sanctions even after DPRK returns to six-party talks

Japan will continue its own sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) even after the six-party talks resume, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said on Wednesday.

Aso said Japan welcomed the resumption of the six-party talks, which was agreed on Tuesday by China, the United States and the DPRK.

But Japan would go on with its own economic sanctions against the DPRK, he added, ruling out the possibility that the sanctions would be lifted with the DPRK's return to the talks, which was suspended a year ago.

Addressing a morning session of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Aso warned against being too optimistic about the prospect of the talks, Kyodo news agency reported.

Japan imposed economic sanctions on the DPRK after it test-fired missiles in early July. The sanctions include a ban on all imports from the country and measures that prohibit its ships from entering Japanese ports.

Source: Xinhua