Japan increases sanctions on North Korea

(Baonghean.vn) - Prime Minister Abe announced that Japan will "freeze" the assets of 35 North Korean groups and individuals within the framework of new sanctions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During a session of the National Assembly, the Japanese Prime Minister affirmed that the security situation in the region surrounding Japan has become volatile and increasingly worse since the end of World War II.

"This is the reality we have to face, not an exaggeration," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed.

The cause of tension comes from the strong development of North Korea's nuclear program, as well as military exercises at sea by the US and its allies in the region.

The head of the Japanese government said that North Korea's continued development of its nuclear program and missile tests is "completely unacceptable."

Before the National Assembly, Mr. Shinzo Abe affirmed that the Japanese Government is committed to taking decisive action to resolve Pyongyang's missile and nuclear issues.

“Therefore, we need to unite and coordinate closely with the international community to continue to increase pressure on North Korea. In particular, we need to cooperate closely with Russia and China,” said Mr. Shinzo Abe.

Prime Minister Abe announced that Japan will freeze the assets of 35 North Korean groups and individuals as part of new sanctions. The Japanese leader said the additional sanctions are aimed at deterring North Korea's weapons program and are part of efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.

He also added that in the face of North Korea's provocative actions, Japan will have more specific cooperation strategies with the US to protect the safety of its people, including strengthening its defense potential and developing a missile defense system.

Japan has repeatedly expressed anger and strongly protested after North Korea fired missiles over Japanese territory three times, endangering the lives of its people, and called on the international community to send a clear message against North Korea's provocative actions.

In response to the UN Security Council's sanctions resolutions, North Korea called them "evil and illegal sanctions resolutions", declaring that it would "redouble efforts to develop its strength to defend its sovereignty and right to existence".

North Korea even threatened to use nuclear weapons to sink Japan for "following" the US in supporting the resolution to sanction North Korea.

America and Russia

(According to TASS)