On February 10, the Japanese government finalized its independent sanctions in reaction to nuclear testing and the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea. The measures are based on recommendations from our Party. During a press conference, Prime Minister and LDP President Shinzo Abe stated, "We will work in close coordination with the international community to resolve the abduction, nuclear, and missile issues."

The sanctions, which include a resumption of measures that had been relaxed under the Stockholm agreement of May 2014, impose stiffer restrictions on travel and fund transfers.

The travel restrictions resume the ban in principle on the entry to Japan of North Korean nationals and the re-entry of North Korean authority officials residing in Japan. The scope of North Korean authority officials subject to the ban has also been expanded. As a new measure, foreign nuclear and missile engineers residing in Japan will also be barred from re-entry if they travel to North Korea.

Fund-transfer regulations reduce the reporting threshold for cash taken from Japan to North Korea from ¥1,000,000 to ¥100,000 and also prohibit the transfer of funds to North Korea (excluding amounts ¥100,000 or less for humanitarian purposes).

In addition, all North Korean vessels, including those for humanitarian purposes, and third-country vessels calling via North Korean ports are barred from Japanese ports.

The new sanctions were finalized on February 10 in a National Security Council (NSC) four-minister's meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explained, "We gave serious thought to what would be the most effective in bringing us to a comprehensive resolution of all of the major issues: abductions, nuclear development, and missiles." He continued, "We are prepared to consider further sanctions if the situation warrants," underscoring the potential for additional sanctions depending upon the North Korean reaction.

In June of last year, our Party recommended to the government the strengthening of 13 sanctions against North Korea in the event that there is no progress on the reinvestigation of missing Japanese nationals, including abductees, as promised by North Korea under the Stockholm agreement. LDP also issued "Emergency Party Statements" calling for stronger sanctions in reaction to the nuclear test in January and the launch of a ballistic missile on the February 7.

North Korea reacted to the Japanese sanctions by unilaterally disbanding the Special Investigation Committee tasked with the reinvestigation, but in a document on the sanctions issued on February 10, the Japanese government stated, "We will do everything in our power to maintain dialogue aimed at a resolution and achieve the return of all abductees to Japan as quickly as possible under the terms of the Stockholm agreement." The government maintains a clear and resolute position of "dialogue and pressure" and "rewarding action with action."

Recognizing that the understanding and cooperation of the international community will be crucial to the resolution of the abduction issue, our Party recommended to the government that human rights violations, including the abduction issue, be included in the reasons for any new UN Security Council resolutions for sanctions against North Korea. In December of last year, Chairperson Keiji Furuya and Chief Secretary Ichiro Tsukada of the Party's Headquarters for North Korean Abductions traveled to the United States to seek support and closer coordination with the US government and members of the US Congress to resolve the issues.

This repeated and outrageous behavior by North Korea constitutes a serious threat to Japanese security and an impairment to the peace and safety of the Asian region. It cannot be tolerated. Our Party will continue to work in close coordination with the government, doing everything possible to resolve these issues.

Independent sanctions finalized by Japan

1. Travel restrictions

   (1)Ban in principle on the entry of all North Korean nationals

   (2)Ban in principle on re-entry into Japan of North Korean authority officials residing in Japan and all those who assist them in their official activities if they travel to North Korea (expansion of the scope of the existing ban)

   (3)Voluntary cessation of travel from Japan to North Korea

   (4)Suspension in principle of all travel to North Korea by Japanese government officials

   (5)Ban in principle on the landing of crew members from North Korean vessels

   (6)Ban in principle on "the landing of foreign national crewmembers convicted of violations of Japanese trade and financial restrictions against North Korea" and "re-entry into Japan of foreign national residents convicted of violations of Japanese trade and financial restrictions against North Korea in the event that they travel to North Korea"

   (7)Ban on re-entry into Japan of foreign nuclear and missile engineers residing in Japan who travel to North Korea

2. Reduction in the reporting threshold for payment instruments etc. brought to North Korea from ¥1,000,000 to ¥100,000 and ban in principle on all payments to North Korea except for payments of ¥100,000 or less made for humanitarian purposes
3. Ban from Japanese ports of all North Korean vessels, including those for humanitarian purposes, and any third-country vessels that have called at North Korean ports
4. Expansion of the scope of organizations and individuals subject to asset freezes