Nuke fallout: Japan to impose export ban on N Korea

Japan has decided to impose an outright ban on exports to North Korea as part of its efforts to toughen sanctions on Pyongyang following the nuclear test by the country, Japanese government sources have said.

The proposed ban, however, is expected to have little impact on North Korea, as the total value of exports from Japan is relatively small, they said.

Japan had already imposed a ban on imports from North Korea and entry of North Korean vessels into Japan in October 2006 when Pyongyang conducted its first nuclear experiment.

Under the UN Security Council Resolution 1718 adopted after the nuclear test, Japan has also prohibited exporting luxury items to North Korea.

By strengthening the sanctions, Japan is apparently aiming to highlight its stance of "sternly" dealing with North Korea's nuclear threat, they said.

While closely watching developments on the UN Security Council, the government will decide when to impose the exports ban, they added.

Japan's exports to North Korea totalled roughly 800 million yen in 2008, according to statistics by the country's Finance Ministry.