Japan not to tighten sanctions against North Korea

The government of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda decided Saturday not to impose additional sanctions against North Korea in light of improving prospects for dialogues between Pyongyang and other governments involved in North Korea's nuclear development issue, government sources said. According to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency, after extending the sanctions in April including a total ban on North Korean vessels making port calls in Japan, Noda''s predecessor Naoto Kan told his ministers to consider additional actions against North Korea. Noda''s administration concluded that implementing additional sanctions could cause Japan to be held responsible for throwing cold water on situations surrounding diplomatic efforts aimed at resuming multilateral talks on Pyongyang''s nuclear development, the sources said.