TOKYO, June 16 (RIA Novosti) - Japan on Tuesday unilaterally imposed sanctions on North Korea, halting all trade with the secretive state in reaction to its recent nuclear test, the Kyodo news agency reported.
The Japanese move is in addition to existing UN sanctions, which were beefed up last week, and includes a ban on foreigners entering Japan if they are involved in trade or financial operations with the North.
Japan will also refuse entrance to any foreigners who permanently reside in Japan but have visited North Korea.
"These measures are an appeal to put effort into the final solution to issues of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the DPRK [North Korea], nuclear arms, rockets, as well as the normalization of diplomatic relations," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Kawamura said the sanctions could be removed if the reclusive state halts its nuclear weapons program and resolves the issues surrounding the abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s.
Last week, all 15 UN Security Council members approved a resolution to punish North Korea for its nuclear test in May, which was followed by a series of short-range missile tests. UN Resolution 1874 expands an arms embargo and allows searches of North Korean ships on high seas, but does not authorize the use of force.
In April, the communist North fired a ballistic missile that passed over northern Japan.
Trade between the two countries was $8.2 million in 2008, down from $221.9 million in 2005.
