Japan bans export of luxury goods to N.Korea

WORLD / Asia-Pacific

Japan bans export of luxury goods to N.Korea

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-11-14 09:54

TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday decided to impose a ban on exporting luxury
goods to North Korea in a move experts say could dent morale among the
nation's elite who receive such items as perks.

Japan's cabinet approved bans on exports of 24 kinds of luxury goods to
North Korea including cars, wrist-watches, liquor, cigarettes, jewellery,
perfume and caviar.

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution that among
other measures blocks trade with North Korea in luxury goods following
Pyongyang's nuclear test on October 9.

"We have decided to take measures to ban exports of luxury goods to North
Korea in response to the (UN Security Council) resolution," Foreign
Minister Taro Aso told Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

Japan first imposed punitive measures after Pyongyang fired off a barrage
of test missiles in July and stepped them up after its nuclear test on
October 9. They include a ban on imports and a prohibition on North
Korean ships entering Japanese ports.

Japan's total trade with North Korea amounted to some $180 million in
2005, about half the 2002 figure.

North Korea said recently it would return to six-party talks on ending
its nuclear programmes.

But Japan said it would maintain its sanctions on North Korea despite
Pyongyang's agreement to return to the talks, which bring together North
and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Tokyo said the sanctions would not be lifted until the state committed to
abandoning its nuclear ambitions.

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