Japan, “In Order to Resolve the Abductees Issue,” Reviews Stronger Restriction on Remittance to North Korea

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on January 17 that the Japanese government is planning on adopting a measure which forces the amount of money sent to North Korea and cash that a visitor to the North is carrying to be reported to the Japanese government regardless of the amount, unless the North comes up with a sincere explanation about the Japanese abductees issue.

The current Japanese foreign exchange and trade law requires the reporting of overseas remittance exceeding 30 million yen and cash of more than one million yen that a traveler takes with him/her overseas. However, the planned new law requires the reporting regardless of the amount. This is interpreted as one of the economic sanctions against the North to urge the Communist country to resolve the abductees issue.

The newspaper reported that such economic sanctions could take effect through the revision of the existing foreign exchange and trade law, and that those who violate the law will be subject to less than six months in jail or less than 200,000 yen in fines.