Japan cabinet approves new North Korea sanctions

TOKYO, Oct 13 (Reuters) Japan's cabinet formally approved sanctions against North Korea today in response to Pyongyang's announcement of a nuclear test this week, including banning imports from the impoverished communist state and blocking North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports.

Pyongyang has threatened to retaliate if Tokyo goes ahead with the measures, which were decided by its top security panel on Wednesday and are largely symbolic given the lack of strong economic ties between the two countries.

The steps, adding to sanctions Tokyo had already imposed following North Korea's firing of a salvo of missiles in July, also include prohibiting the entry of North Korean nationals except those living in Japan.

Yesterday, Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalisation talks with Japan, as saying Pyongyang would take ''strong countermeasures'' against Japan if it went ahead with sanctions.

''We will take strong countermeasures. The specific contents will become clear if you keep watching. We never speak empty words,'' Kyodo quoted Song as saying in a report from Pyongyang.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Tokyo will consider further steps depending on North Korea's future behaviour and developments in the international community, referring to a possible UN Security Council resolution urging punitive action against Pyongyang.

REUTERS DH PM0607