Japan eyeing total ban on exports to N. Korea following missile launch+

TOKYO, April 6 Kyodo - The government is considering imposing a total ban on exports to North Korea following the suspected launch of a long-range ballistic missile by Pyongyang on Sunday, government officials said Monday.

Although the ban would have only a limited impact on bilateral trade, which has
shrunk sharply since North Korea's announcement of a nuclear test in 2006, it
would have ''political meaning, representing a strong protest by Japan''
against the launch, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Japan has prohibited the export of luxury goods to North Korea since November
2006, including jewelry and automobiles, and materials that can be used for
weapons of mass destruction.
Exports from Japan to North Korea fell to less than 800 million yen in value in
2008 from around 1 billion yen in 2007.
Japan has already imposed and repeatedly extended a total ban on imports from
North Korea.
While the import ban is due to expire later in April, the government is making
''final adjustments to extend it for one year,'' said Harufumi Mochizuki, vice
minister for economy, trade and industry.
==Kyodo