Japanese gov't approves unilateral sanctions on DPRK

TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Friday approved its new sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its recent rocket launch and nuclear bomb test.

The new sanctions include banning entering of ships from third countries that have visited ports in the DPRK into Japan and banning remittances to the DPRK in principle, according to local reports.

The DPRK earlier this month launched a long-range rocket, saying it carried an earth observation satellite, but Japan and the U.S., among other nations, believed the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile.

It is the first time since December 2012 that the DPRK has conducted such a test. The DPRK is banned from test-firing any rockets based on a ballistic missile technology under UN Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK also tested its first hydrogen nuclear bomb last month which was also a violation against related UN resolution and was criticized by the international community.

Japan lifted parts of its unilateral sanctions against the DPRK in 2014 since the DPRK agreed to restart investigations on some of Japanese nationals it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.

Reports said that the DPRK has ended investigation into Japanese abductees in the country in response to Japan's expanded sanctions.