Japan has suspended exports of 24 classes of goods frequently purchased by the communist country's rulers, including alcohol, cigarettes, jewelry, cars and perfume.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe maintains a tough line on North Korea, despite its recent agreement to return to the six-party talks on the country's nuclear problem, which also involve Russia, the United States, China, and South Korea.
Japan's prime minister said the ban on luxury items "is a serious message from the international community to the North Korean authorities," and that the new restrictions "should not affect ordinary citizens of North Korea, but only top government officials."
As well as fears over North Korea's nuclear ambitions in Japan, which has maintained a firm anti-proliferation policy since the Second World War, the two countries have yet to resolve a dispute over North Korea's abductions of 13 Japanese nationals in the 1970s and early 1980s, some of whose fate remains unknown. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has admitted to the abductions.
Following the latest sanctions, Akira Amari, Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry, said Japan intends to propose that other countries impose similar restrictions against North Korea.
Last week Japanese lawmakers unanimously approved a document prohibiting North Korean vessels from entering Japanese territorial waters.
The country had already banned North Korean ships from docking at Japanese ports, over Pyongyang's missile tests in July.
The UN Security Council imposed weapons and financial sanctions on Pyongyang following the country's October 9 announcement that it had successfully tested a nuclear device.
Russia supports the sanctions but opposes the use of military force against North Korea.
