Japan expands unilateral sanctions on DPRK

The Japanese government on Friday decided to expand its sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Japan's top government spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said the move was in response to the DPRK's launch of a missile on Nov. 29 in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The expansion of sanctions also aimed to coincide with a U.N. Security Council ministerial meeting to be held later in the day in New York.

The meeting is to be chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

Cabinet ministers here approved the decision to freeze the assets of an additional 19 organizations including shipping companies, trading firms and banks based in the DPRK.

The asset freeze now spans to 103 organizations and 108 individuals, according to Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)