LOC18:15
15:15 GMT
TOKYO, Feb 12 (KUNA) -- Japan will impose additional unilateral sanctions
on North Korea as it conducted the third nuclear test on Tuesday, Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe said.
The government will expand its ban on re-entry of senior officials of the
pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, from five to
10, Abe said in a statement.
"North Korea's nuclear test is absolutely unacceptable. It is a serious
threat to Japan's security and undermines peace and stability in northeast
Asia and the international community," said Abe.
"It is a serious challenge to the international framework for disarmament
and nuclear nonproliferation." The statement also said Japan will closely
cooperate with the US, South Korea, China, Russia and other concerned
countries to seek a strong response by the UN Security Council.
Earlier in the day, North Korea confirmed it conducted its third
underground nuclear test, saying that "the successful nuclear test was carried
out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and
lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously."
Pyongyang carried out nuclear tests in October 2006 and May 2009, sparking
strong criticism then from the international community. Japan unilaterally
imposed the sanctions in 2006 following the North's first nuclear test and
test-launch of ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan the same year,
including all imports from North Korea and port calls by North Korean ships,
as well as the export of luxury goods to the communist country. (end)
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KUNA 121815 Feb 13NNNN