Asia-Pacific

Japan rules out additional sanctions against DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-22 15:01

TOKYO - Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said Thursday that Japan is not considering additional sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) but remains committed to working closely together with the international community to address Pyongyang's "unacceptable activities."

Addressing a press conference, Sengoku said, "We welcome and support additional sanctions of the United States."

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The top government spokesman made the remarks after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Wednesday that the US will introduce new "country-specific" sanctions against the DPRK's procurement of nuclear materials.

Hillary Clinton made the announcement at a joint press conference Wednesday in Seoul following the so-called "two plus two" security talks between the US and South Korean top diplomats and defense officials, designed to reaffirm their robust military alliance in the face of heightened tension on the Korean peninsula.

In late May, Japan decided to lower the ceiling on the amount of money that may be remitted to the DPRK without notifying the Japanese government from 10 million yen to 3 million yen as part of its punitive action against Pyongyang.