That will enable Tokyo to search North Korean vessels in international waters or to support U.S. searches of North Korean ships. Japanese Defense Agency chief Fumio Kyuma said it was difficult to designate the current situation as “the gravest danger,” but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told his Cabinet to consider the designation.

Abe has been supportive of intercepting North Korean ships, saying that the situation is changing instant by instant and Japan needs to consider all possible scenarios and options. Some lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have proposed a new special law allowing ship inspections.

Meanwhile, Abe said Wednesday immediately before announcing new sanctions against North Korea that the very existence of the Stalinist country would be seriously challenged. His remarks suggest that Japan is taking actions on the supposition of not only a change in North Korea’s attitude but also the collapse of the regime. In Wednesday’s sanctions, Tokyo banned North Korean ships, nationals and manufactured goods from entering Japan.

North Korea’s envoy in charge of diplomatic normalization talks with Japan, Song Il-ho, told the Kyodo news agency Thursday, “We will take strong countermeasures. The specific contents will become clear if you keep watching. We never speak empty words.” He added North Korea is closely watching Abe’s moves and Japan’s sanctions are tougher than those imposed by other countries. All other Japanese press outlets have pulled their correspondents out of Pyongyang.

(englishnews@chosun.com )