CINA

본문

NEXT WEEK: JAPAN WILL DECLARE WAR TO THE D.P.R.K.(*)

S.K. Yonhap news agency reported today:

Japan considers financial sanctions against N. Korea

Japan has reportedly decided to impose financial sanctions against North Korea amid concerns that the communist state may be preparing to launch additional missiles or test a nuclear bomb.

Japanese news outlets reported that the country may take action as early as next week.

"Japan is considering releasing specifics of financial sanctions on North Korea in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution as early as Tuesday and has begun final consultations on the matter with the United States," Kyodo News reported, quoting unidentified sources.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on July 15 condemning North Korea's test-firing of seven ballistic missiles earlier that month and to prohibit any transfer to or from the communist state of material, technology and financial resources that are related to the North's weapons program.

North Korea immediately rejected the resolution, calling it a "gangster-like" act by Washington and its allies to isolate and stifle its communist regime. Japan and the United States have been calling for additional sanctions against the North amid Pyongyang's boycott of international negotiations over its nuclear weapons program.

The move, if taken, is expected to deal a severe blow to the North as its firms in Japan and pro-Pyongyang Koreans in the country have been one of the largest sources of hard currency for the communist state.

Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, told reporters Thursday that the plan has yet to become final, saying his country would "have to consult on the matter with the United States and South Korea."
But his Deputy Chief Secretary of Cabinet Jinen Nagase said the country was moving toward that end.

"At the moment, relevant government ministries and agencies are making preparations as to whom the sanctions will target and when the sanctions will be implemented," Nagase was quoted as saying Thursday.

News reports here said the envisioned sanctions were likely to target 12 North Korean or pro-Pyongyang businesses and organizations that have been outlined by the United States for having suspected links to the North's communist regime and one person suspected of similar links.

Tokyo banned a North Korean passenger ferry in July from its ports for six months as part of a nine-point resolution, imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions against the North.

The total amount of North Korea's exports to Japan dropped to 440 million yen (US$3.75 million) in July, a 44.2 percent decrease from that of June, Japan's Finance Ministry said late last month.

The amount also represented a 42.2 percent decrease from the same month in 2005, according to the ministry.

Japan is part of the multilateral negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. But the talks, also attended by South Korea, China, Russia and the United States, have been stalled since November due to a North Korean boycott.

http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20060915/610000000020060915091104E8.html

DailyNK(no comment please!!) wrote this today:

“Japan, Imposing Financial Sanctions Against North Korea”

Mainichi “Freezing assets of enterprises suspected to be involved with WMD”  
 
A Japanese newspaper, the Mainichi reported that on the 14th the Japanese government confirmed its policy to implement financial sanctions against North Korea this month and freeze assets of individuals or corporations speculated to be involved with weapons of mass destruction.

The newspaper reported that “The government will ban withdrawals and overseas remittances from accounts held in Japan by organizations and individuals suspected of being linked to North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction” and “may implement the sanctions before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi resigns on September 26th.”

The newspaper relayed that “Top government officials deemed it indispensable to impose additional sanctions against the secluded state after North Korea refused to hold talks on its missile development plan and failed to express its readiness to return to the six-party talks even though two months have passed since the United Nations adopted the resolution.”

After the U.S urged members of the United Nations resolution to pass the North Korea financial sanctions, it appears that further cooperation will be advocated through the U.S.-Japan mutual support.

Although it is difficult to anticipate cooperation from China or Russia, it is expected that European countries, Canada, Australia and such will be provoked to cooperate.

The Japanese government plans to identify the individuals or organizations subject to the sanctions based on information from investigative authorities in various countries. Even if dozens of individuals and organizations receive sanctions though it would not have direct affect on North Korea, the Japanese government anticipates that these measures will portray a strong message of ‘pressure’ to each country.

After the missile launch on July 5th, the Japanese government implemented the nine-point sanctions prohibiting the North Korean vessel ‘The Mangyongbong’ and North Korean officials to enter Japan. In addition, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is deliberating drafting a law to further impose sanctions against financial institutions suspected of being involved in money-laundering.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=1101

* Several times the D.P.R.K.(KCNA/Rodong Shinmun..) said that any sanctions against it will be seen as a "declaration of war"!!(^^)