N Korea demands Japan revoke sanctions: Report

Tokyo, Jul 7: North Korea demanded that Japan halt sanctions it has imposed in reaction to Pyongyang's missile launches, threatening ''stronger action'' if Tokyo continues with the measures, Kyodo news agency said today.

''Japan is translating its criticism against us into action,'' the agency quoted Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalisation talks with Japan, as telling reporters in Pyongyang.

''This may force us to take stronger physical actions,'' as a response, he said. Asked what the steps may be, he said, ''I leave that to your imagination,'' Kyodo reported.

Japan banned a North Korean ferry from entering Japanese ports for six months following Pyongyang's launch of a series of missiles that landed in the Japan sea on Wednesday.

REUTERS