Japan Expands Economic Sanctions Against North Korea

The Japanese government freezed assets of four foreign firms and two people over their alleged links to North Korea’s controversial nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — The Japanese government agreed Friday to freeze assets of four foreign firms and two people over their alleged links to North Korea’s controversial nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Japanese media said.

The sanctions will be imposed on four Chinese and two Namibian companies and two individuals from China and North Korea, the Kyodo news agency reported.

The United States earlier slapped sanctions on Chinese and Russian companies and nationals over their ties to North Korea’s trade and business, allegedly to curb funding for Pyongyang’s military programs after a series of missile tests and threats to attack the US island of Guam.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday described the US move as illegal and warned that the curbs could further increase tension in the region.