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Subject:
japantimes.co.jp: Japan makes it official: more punitive steps kick in
tjkhan
10/14/2006 5:37:49 PM
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Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006
Japan makes it official: more punitive steps kick in
By HIROKO NAKATA
Staff writer
The Cabinet on Friday approved additional economic sanctions on North Korea, following Pyongyang's reported underground nuclear test, underscoring Japan's firm stance on the issue ahead of the U.N. Security Council's expected vote on a resolution to impose multilateral sanctions as well.
Crewmen on a North Korean freighter docked here reflect sunlight toward reporters and photographers Friday as they prepare to leave. KYODO PHOTO
Japan's measures include a ban on all North Korean ships entering Japanese ports, a ban on North Korean imports, and barring entry by North Korean nationals other than those living in Japan.
The import ban will hinder Pyongyang's efforts to gain foreign currency and is aimed at disrupting its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The ban on the entry by North Korean citizens took effect Wednesday after the steps were approved by the government's top security panel. The ban on port entries and imports were effective from midnight Friday. The sanctions will last for six months.
According to the Cabinet Office, of the 14.54 billion yen in Japanese imports from North Korea in 2005, seafood made up the largest product category, at 4.05 billion yen. Sea urchin, short-necked clams and snow crabs accounted for more than half that amount.
Coal and charcoal briquettes were North Korea's second-largest export to Japan, worth 1.93 billion yen, followed by fruit, vegetables and mushrooms -- mostly "matsutake" -- worth 1.67 billion yen.
As of Friday, 22 North Korean vessels were docked at four ports in Japan -- Otaru, Hokkaido; Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture; Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture; and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Some Japanese traders have already been refusing to offload shipments from North Korea to protest its nuclear test, despite the cost to their business.
Japan also came up with emergency measures Friday to support domestic industries that would be hurt by the sanctions.
The farm ministry will open counters for counseling services for processors and distributors of marine products from North Korea that are expected to suffer from the sanctions.
State-owned Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation will extend loans to parties planning to change business or shift to other products for trade, the government said.
Small and medium-size companies that would be affected can also receive counseling and borrow similar loans from governmental institutions at low rates.
The government will require commercial banks to take appropriate action for companies that are hit hard by the sanctions by extending loans and not pressing for prompt repayment.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said the government will be ready to hold more emergency meetings to discuss more steps in the future, if needed.
The latest set of punitive measures is the third imposed by Tokyo since Pyongyang test-fired seven missiles over the Sea of Japan on July 5.
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