Japanese Ruling Party Introduced a Bill to Put Sanctions on North Korean Ships

The Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its bloc New Komeito have agreed on a bill to ban port calls by North Korea as a diplomatic card to the North, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday. The Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling alliance will hopefully submit the bill to the Diet by next week.

This bill prohibits both ships of specific countries and ships that have stayed in specific countries from entering the port temporarily. The New Komeito raised the issue of the bill’s vague adequacy which explains “The Japanese government decided the bill is necessary for keeping the peace and safety of Japan,” but they have settled on the bill as tool to apply pressure.

In regards to this bill, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, “It is a means of resolving abduction and nuclear issues peacefully but we need to be cautious,” and hinted that he will not put it into action immediately but just use it as a diplomatic card.

However, it is expected that the North will backlash and aggravate the relations between North Korea and Japan.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com