[USFK Forums] Japan ruling party approves North Korea sanctions bill [Reuters]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Saturday, March 18, 2006

Japan ruling party approves North Korea sanctions bill

Friday March 17, 11:31 AM

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party approved a bill on Friday requiring the government to slap economic sanctions on North Korea if it fails to come clean on the fate of Japanese citizens kidnapped decades ago.

The move follows growing calls by politicians and activists to punish the reclusive communist state for refusing to resolve a dispute over Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970 and 1980s to train spies.

"This is significant. This will be a message to the international community," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters. "The bill will convey Japan's stance to North Korea."

The bill, unanimously endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), calls for sanctions to be imposed if North Korea fails to show progress in resolving human rights violations including the Japanese abductions, party officials said.

The LDP plans to submit it to parliament later this month after discussions with its coalition partner, the New Komeito Party, they said.


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