Japan may mull extra sanctions on N. Korea depending on situation

TOKYO, Oct. 30 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso suggested Thursday that the government may consider
imposing more sanctions on North Korea if Pyongyang fails to fulfill its
promise to launch a reinvestigation into its abductions of Japanese nationals.
Citing that no progress has taken place on the reinvestigation into the
abduction cases as Pyongyang promised in August, Aso told reporters he will
consider whether to impose more sanctions on North Korea by looking at how the
situation develops.
''Dialogue and pressure is the basis for negotiations with North Korea,'' and
how to balance dialogue and pressure is always an issue, Aso said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a news conference Thursday it is
necessary to increase pressure on North Korea if it does not launch the
reinvestigation on victims who were abducted by North Korea.
Kawamura said the Japanese government is strongly seeking that Pyongyang
implement its promise made in August. If no specific development has occurred
on the reinvestigation, ''We have to increase pressure,'' he added.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma suggested that imposing
more sanctions on North Korea should be considered in order to resolve the
issue of its abductions of Japanese nationals.
Japan has recently extended the period of its economic sanctions against the
North as Pyongyang has yet to fulfill its promise to launch reinvestigations
into the abduction cases.
==Kyodo