Japan punishes North Korea with 'luxuries' ban

Japan’s cabinet adopted a list of embargoed luxury items to North Korea today and approved a ban on materials related to weapons of mass destruction as part of sanctions against Pyongyang after its nuclear test.

Chief cabinet secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said the list comprised 24 luxury items such as cigarettes, alcohol, perfume and motorcycles, believed to be used by senior North Korean officials.

He said the Cabinet also approved the ban on materials and equipment that could be used for WMD programmes in North Korea.

“We hope that North Korea will accept these measures taken by Japan as the message of the international community’s strong concern and condemnation,” Shiozaki said.

The ban on luxury as well as WMD-related items is in line with United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea following Pyongyang’s October 9 nuclear test.

Aside from a ban on sales of luxury goods, the sanctions also include an embargo on major weapons hardware and freezing assets of businesses supplying the North’s nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes.

In 2005, Japan’s luxury item export to North Korea was worth around £5m (€7.4m), about 16% of the total export to North Korea, Shiozaki said.

The measures will become effective tomorrow, according to the trade ministry.

Japan has banned all of North Korea’s vessels from Japanese ports and all imports from North Korea, along with severely limiting travel from the country since the test.