Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that his
country would continue its own sanctions on North Korea even after
the six-party talks resume, Kyodo news agency reported.
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Abe appreciated North Korea for its decision to return to the
negotiation table, but insisted that Japan would not stop its
unilateral sanctions until the issues such as missile launches,
nuclear tests and abductions of Japanese nationals were
resolved.
China, the United States and North Korea on Tuesday agreed to
resume the six-party talks, which, suspended a year ago, also
involve Russia, Japan and South Korea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso made similar remarks earlier
in the day, ruling out the possibility that the sanctions would be
lifted with North Korea's return to the talks.
While addressing a morning session of the House of
Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Aso also warned
against being too optimistic about the prospect of the talks, the
report said.
Japan imposed economic sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang
test-fired missiles in early July. The sanctions include a ban on
all imports from the country and measures that prohibit its ships
from entering Japanese ports.
(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2006)
