Japan said on Wednesday it would impose sanctions on North Korea after the launch of a satellite seen by Washington and its allies, including Tokyo, as a cover for developing ballistic missile technology that could be used for a nuclear weapon.
Reuters
The news came after the announcement of South Korea would suspend operations at an industrial park administered together with its neighbor in North Korea, almost at the border, in a move to eliminate a major source of income for the impoverished north.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference that will be prohibited remittances to North Korea, except for smaller amounts to 100,000 yen ($ 869.94) for humanitarian purposes.
Japan also would tighten restrictions on travel to North Korea and prohibited arrival at ports of North Korean ships, even for humanitarian purposes, as well as visits of vessels from other countries that have docked earlier at North Korean ports.
"North Korea conducted nuclear test in the fourth contempt calls by the international community to refrain and then went ahead with the launch of a ballistic missile," Suga said at a press conference.
"This translates into a direct and serious security threat in our country, significantly affects the peace and security of Northeast Asia and the international community is absolutely unacceptable," he added.