Japan FM: Could Impose Sanctions on N. Korea if Missile Launched
25 June 2006
Japan's foreign minister says Tokyo could impose sanctions on North Korea if it launches a long-range missile.
Taro Aso told Japan's NHK television Sunday Tokyo has passed laws allowing it to freeze cash transfers to North Korea and ban ship traffic between the countries. He said such measures could be introduced without reference to the U.N. Security Council.
Satellite images indicate Pyongyang may be preparing to test-fire a missile that could reach parts of the United States, but officials cannot determine whether a launch is imminent.
South Korea's Prime Minister Han Myung-sook Sunday urged the North to return to six-party nuclear talks and recognize the international community's concerns about its missile program.
South Korean officials say Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon will discuss North Korea during talks with Chinese officials in Beijing Monday and Tuesday.
Pyongyang has offered to talk to Washington about its concerns, but the U.S. says it will only meet North Korea in six-country talks aimed to disarm the North's nuclear program.
The talks, involving North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, have been deadlocked since November.
North Korea last fired a long-range missile in 1998 over Japan into the Pacific Ocean, shocking the world.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
