|
Several countries will slap sanctions on North Korea in line with the UN Security Council resolution condemning North Korea¡¯s July 5 missile tests, with Japan first to go on Tuesday. The Japanese Cabinet looks set to approve additional sanctions in a meeting on the day, banning any withdrawals and overseas remittances from accounts by organizations and individuals suspected of links to North Korea and freezing North Korean assets. The measure targets some 10 individuals and organizations including the Korea Mining Development Corporation (KOMID) and Tanchon Commercial Bank already sanctioned by the U.S.
The decision comes two months after Japan banned entry of the North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92. It will effectively freeze any North Korean assets in Japan and discourage trade with Pyongyang.
 |
|
Kim Yong-nam, the president of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, delivers a speech during the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Havana on Saturday./AFP
|
 |
|
The U.S., for its part, will announce checks of North Korean ships suspected of carrying weapons or related technology, plus additional financial sanctions against the North as early as next week. Despite objections from European countries, the U.S. wants to inspect all North Korean vessels without exception, according to government. Washington is also putting invisible pressure on financial institutions suspected of doing business with North Korea.
Once the measures to enforce the Security Council resolution are finalized, the U.S. will again write to some 190 UN member countries urging them to fall in line. Next up, staunch U.S. ally Australia and Canada are the most positive about sanctions. The two countries participated in 10-way talks on the North Korean nuclear issue in Malaysia in July and have strongly supported the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative, a loose coalition of countries to stop shipments of deadly weapons. In addition, the EU, Singapore and Vietnam will likely follow suit since they already froze North Korean assets. A North Korea expert with a state-run institute said the sanctions will have a substantial impact on North Korea even if they are symbolic actions.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
