According to government spokesman Hirokazo Matsono, Japan decided to impose more sanctions on North Korea today, Tuesday, by freezing the assets of five more institutions in light of its involvement in the North Korean nuclear and missile development programmes.
After North Korea began testing ballistic missiles frequently toward the Sea of Japan in late September, including an experiment earlier this month in which the missile flew over the Japanese archipelago for the first time in five years, additional sanctions were approved at a meeting of the Council of Ministers this morning.
“Pyongyang’s provocations constitute serious and visible threats” to Japan’s security and that such “reckless behaviors” threaten international security and stability and “it cannot be tolerated at all. ”
As Matsono noted, “Japan asks North Korea to take tangible actions to tackle many issues,” including nuclear and missile development programmes as well as historical incidents including the kidnapping of Japanese citizens.
The kidnappings of Japanese civilians by North Korean operatives in the 1970s and 1980s, according to Matsono, are one of the main issues facing the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Due to North Korea’s missile testing, Japan broadens the scope of its sanctions against the country.
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