Japan extends North Korea sanctions

TOKYO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Japanese Cabinet, citing no progress on the abduction of its nationals by North Korea, Tuesday extended sanctions against Pyongyang.

The six-month extension of some of the sanctions beginning next week include barring North Korean-flagged ships from Japanese ports and banning imports from the country, Kyodo news service reported. The approval by the Cabinet of newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda came on the anniversary of North Korea’s nuclear test last year.

The Cabinet said Japan will continue to seek a breakthrough on the kidnapping issue and also on North Korea’s nuclear program, the report said.

Separately, commenting on reports that North Korea considers the abduction issue closed, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said, “That is something North Korea has always been saying and which we cannot accept.”

North Korea claims eight of the 13 abducted Japanese nationals have died and the other five have returned to Japan. But Japan said the five who returned were among 17 abducted and seeks an investigation about the other 12.

The Japanese action comes in the wake of the recent progress made at the six-nation talks on disabling North Korea’s nuclear facilities.