N.Korea bans ships, missile firings likely

PYONGYANG, North Korea, June 8 (UPI) -- North Korea plans to ban ships from some areas of the Sea of Japan, which prompted the Japanese coast guard Monday to issue an alert.

The North Korean ban will affect about 160 miles of the Wonsan coast in the eastern part of North Korea and about 62 miles of the sea from the shore, Kyodo News reported. The ban was seen as an indication Pyongyang may be preparing to fire more of its short-range missiles.

The ban, received by the Japanese coast guard, will be in effect from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. starting Wednesday through June 30, Kyodo reported.

North Korea has come under wide-ranging international condemnation for conducting a nuclear test last month and following it up with several short-range missile firings.

Commenting on the latest ban, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said the country "cannot deny the possibility that (North Korea) will fire missiles, including ballistic missiles, in response to developments of the U.N. Security Council and other moves," Kyodo reported.

The Security Council is drafting a resolution, which countries like Japan want to be strong enough to include additional sanctions against North Korea.