Japanese Government Extends North Korea Sanctions Including Export and Import Bans for 2 More Years

▲Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Japan has decided to extend its unilateral sanctions against North Korea, imposed for 15 years due to nuclear and missile issues, for an additional two years.

On the 6th, the Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to extend the North Korea sanctions, which are set to expire on the 13th, for two more years. This decision reflects the reality that North Korea’s denuclearization and ballistic missile dismantlement have not been concretized, and the abduction issue of Japanese citizens remains unresolved.

Accordingly, Japan’s unilateral sanctions against North Korea, including a complete ban on exports and imports and refusal of entry for vessels with North Korean registration or port call history, will be maintained.

The Japanese government has imposed independent sanctions against North Korea since 2006 as a pressure policy separate from United Nations Security Council sanctions, citing North Korea’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches as issues.

Initially, the sanctions were limited to banning the entry of imports and related vessels, but from 2009, export bans were added, increasing the level of sanctions.

Japan also implements indefinite asset freezes on North Korean organizations and individuals related to nuclear and missile programs.

The Japanese government has continued to extend the sanctions every two years, citing North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile development and lack of willingness to resolve the abduction issue.

After North Korea resumed ballistic missile launches toward the East Sea on the 25th of last month, the Japanese government indicated its intention to continue its unilateral sanctions.

At a regular press conference on the 6th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu said, “We decided to extend for two years from the perspective of ensuring the implementation of Security Council resolutions,” adding, “We will continue to make every effort to resolve North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues, and above all, the abduction issue, while closely cooperating with the international community.”

As a result, the possibility of a North Korea-Japan summit, which Prime Minister Suga has been promoting, appears to have become even more remote.

Prime Minister Suga, who succeeded former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s North Korea policy, has proposed multiple times since his inauguration in September last year through parliamentary speeches to meet unconditionally with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un to resolve the abduction issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.