TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Japanese government said on Monday (May 22) that it’s determined to impose its own sanctions to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions, a day after Pyongyang conducted its second missile test in a week.
Japanese government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga said in a regular news conference that blocking off money, parts and technologies that Pyongyang needs for its nuclear weapon programme is essential to curtailing the communist regime’s nuclear programme.
The Pukguksong-2 missile flew about 500 km (310 miles), reaching an altitude of 560 km, and landed in waters off the North Korea’s east coast, South Korea’s military said on Sunday (May 21). North Korea has defied all calls to rein in its nuclear and missile programmes, even from China, its lone major ally, saying the weapons are needed for legitimate self-defence. The North last conducted a ballistic missile test a week ago.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said on Sunday the latest missile test by the reclusive North was “a snub and a challenge to international efforts for a peaceful resolution”.
