9 April

Japan has decided to extend its trade ban and other sanctions on North Korea for a further two years.

The cabinet approved the extension on Tuesday.

The trade ban was due to expire on Saturday, along with a ban on port calls by North Korean ships and foreign vessels that stopped over in the North.

The measures are part of Japan's unilateral sanctions imposed since 2006, in response to North Korea's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.

The Japanese government plans to continue enforcing sanctions in cooperation with the United States and South Korea.

Prospects for Pyongyang's denuclearization have dimmed in recent months, after the US-North Korea summit in February ended without agreement.

NHK