Japan submits to UN committee list for N Korea sanctions

Japan has submitted to a UN Security Council committee a list of North Korean companies and other entities that the country believes should be newly covered by sanctions against North Korea. The move followed the Security Council's adoption of a presidential statement on Monday that strongly condemned the North's launch of a long-range rocket, according to NHK World. The council instructed the sanctions committee to expand the list of target individuals, entities and items for the sanctions, such as asset freeze. The United States has also submitted its own list to the committee, which comprises all 15 council member countries. The committee aims to determine new sanction targets by May 1, informed sources said. China, North Korea's closest ally, will hold the key to the decision, which requires a unanimous vote, the sources said. Japanese officials say they cannot reveal the details of the sanctions since it could help the North to evade them. Analysts are concerned that the North might conduct another nuclear test to make up for the failure of the launch.