Japan decides to impose new NKorea sanctions: NHK

Tokyo, Oct 11: Japan's government has decided to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea in response to its reported nuclear test earlier this week, public broadcaster NHK said.

The decision was expected to be formalised at a meeting later today, it said.

Japan has joined with the United States in calling for tough sanctions by the UN Security Council to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, and Tokyo has also said it could impose measures of its own.

Government officials have said sanctions could include barring all North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports and banning imports and exports between Japan and North Korea.

Japan's total trade with North Korea amounted to about 0 million in 2005, about half the figure in 2002, and trade is thinning further this year, according to Japanese Finance Ministry figures.

REUTERS