Writethru: Japan approves additional sanctions against DPRK

The Japanese government approved early Friday an additional set of economic sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including a total ban on all imports from the country, which will be effective for six months beginning on Saturday, Kyodo News reported.

The cabinet also decided to ban the DPRK ships from entering Japanese ports, and to block DPRK nationals from entering Japan.

The move was the toughest response so far by any country to the DPRK's first nuclear test on Monday.

Tokyo may consider more options for economic sanctions against the DPRK depending on its response, Kyodo News said, quoting government officials.

With the sanctions imposed, the DPRK vessels in Japan have to leave Japanese ports by the end of Saturday.

About 22 DPRK ships were in four Japanese ports by Thursday evening, according to the Transport Ministry.

Japan mainly imports shellfish, sea urchins, crabs and other seafood, as well as coal and mushroom from the DPRK, the value of which stood at 14.4 billion yen (about 121 million U.S. dollars) in 2005.

Source: Xinhua