Japan is considering further economic sanctions against North Korea following Pyongyang's rejection of a UN Security Council resolution demanding the suspension of its ballistic missile program, reports said yesterday.
The Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted the resolution condemning Pyongyang's missile launches and demanding the suspension of its ballistic missile program, but the communist state rejected the "brigandish" resolution and vowed to bolster its defenses.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe ordered officials on Sunday to examine further sanctions following Pyongyang's rejection of the UN resolution, Jiji Press and the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.
Possible measures
Further sanctions could include suspension of cash remittances to North Korea, which depends on financial help from ethnic Koreans in Japan, a ban on bilateral trade and freezes on North Korean assets in Japan, reports said.
The UN Security Council resolution requires all member states to prevent the procurement of missiles or missile related items, materials, goods and technology from North Korea and the transfer of any financial resources in relation to North Korea's missile or weapons of mass destruction programs.
Based on the resolution, Japan may call for other countries to join hands in implementing effective financial sanctions to deter remittances through a third country, Jiji Press said.
Japan was quick to impose sanctions, although in a reserved manner, after Pyongyang launched seven ballistic missiles -- including a long-range Taepodong-2 which theoretically could reach US soil.
Tokyo has banned a major ferry link, visits by diplomats and charter flights from North Korea following the missile launches.
* Tokyo was reportedly mulling more sanctions after Pyongyang rejected a UN resolution.
* The government could pressure the North in several ways, including a ban on bilateral trade.
* Tokyo could also halt cash remittances to the North, which depends on ethnic Koreans in Japan for financial help.
* The government could also freeze North Korean assets in Japan.
Historical hostility
Japan is one of the strongest critics of North Korea. It is particularly sensitive as Pyongyang's previous test of a long-range missile, the Taepodong-1, flew over Japan into the Pacific Ocean in 1998.
North Korea is also widely reviled here for its past kidnappings of Japanese civilians to train its spies, a row that has prevented the two countries from establishing diplomatic relations.
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