TOKYO, April 10 (UPI) -- Japan Tuesday extended sanctions against North Korea by another six months.
The sanctions were first imposed after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test last October and ban all imports from North Korea and will not allow ships from the Communist country to enter Japanese ports.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the sanctions were being extended also in part due to the lack of progress in Pyongyang coming forward with information on the abduction of Japanese nationals, in addition to continued concerns about Kim Jong Il's regime actually shutting down its nuclear reactor.
"There has been no progress in the nuclear, missile or abduction issues. Unless there is progress in these problems, sanctions cannot be lifted," Abe told reporters at his residence late Tuesday.
In February, North Korea said it would close down its reactor within 60 days in exchange for energy aid from the United States, China, Russia and South Korea as well as Japan. While Tokyo declined to take up the offer, the other four countries have contributed aid while the shutdown deadline at the end of this week draws closer.
"North Korea has already promised at the six-party talks that it would take specific steps to denuclearize. Unless that promise is upheld, the position over North Korea is unchanged," Abe added.
