N Korea threatens steps over Japan sanctions-Kyodo

TOKYO, Oct 12 (Reuters) North Korea will take ''strong countermeasures'' against Japan if it goes ahead with new sanctions against the country, a senior North Korean diplomat was quoted as saying today.

Japan's Kyodo news agency, in a report out of Pyongyang, quoted Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalisation talks with Japan, as making the comment over Tokyo's decision to implement new steps in response to Pyongyang's announcement on Monday that it conducted a nuclear test.

REUTERS DKB KN1318