The NYT quoted senior officials as stating, "The Pentagon and State Department are developing detailed plans for sanctions, and perhaps other actions, so that the United States has a forceful response ready in case North Korea takes aggressive new steps toward developing nuclear weapons."

The NYT also said, "Because Russia and China, as well as South Korea and Japan, have been unwilling to support cutting off trade with North Korea, the US is looking at more tailored sanctions that will focus on banned activities like smuggling drugs, or proliferating weapons of mass destruction." It also stated that, "For instance, Pentagon planners are looking closely at using American military forces to stop, turn back or seize ships and aircraft from North Korea that are suspected of carrying missiles or nuclear weapons materials."

According to the NYT, despite the Bush administration's policy against using food aid for political purposes, there is a high possibility that it will cut down last year's 230,000-ton food aid to North Korea this year.

Japanese media reported on Monday that if the US is planning to push for sanctions on Pyongyang, Koreans living in Japan will be asked to stop sending money to North Korea.

They predicted Tokyo would go along with the US sanctions against North Korea as Japan has been discussing cutting off trade and remittances to the North, and banning the entry of the North Korean cargo vessel Mankyungbong since early this month.

The Mainichi News reported Sunday that once the UN Security Council decides on issuing economic sanctions on North Korea, the Japanese government will participate in inspecting North Korean vessels.

(Kim Jae-ho, jaeho@chosun.com )