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Japan says to keep sanctions on N. Korea
TOKYO - Japan will maintain its sanctions on North Korea despite Pyongyangs agreement to return to stalled six-party talks on the reclusive communist states nuclear programme, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said on Wednesday. Shiozaki, the governments top spokesman, said North Korea must first commit itself to abandoning its nuclear programmes, as promised in a joint statement issued after a September 2005 round of the six-party talks.The most important thing is for North Korea to completely abandon nuclear development in accordance with the joint statement from September of last year, Shiozaki told a news conference. Until we know that they will keep that promise, we will just carry on with what weve decided to do, he said, referring to Japans sanctions implemented following Pyongyangs Oct. 9 nuclear test. The Japanese punitive measures include a ban on imports and a prohibition on North Korean ships entering its ports. Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso was quoted as saying that it was too early to celebrate. It is truly welcome that the talks are set to be resumed soon, but we cannot just celebrate and say Thats great, Kyodo news agency quoted Aso as telling parliament. Posted by: Steve White 2006-11-01 |
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