Japan extends sanctions on Pyongyang for 2 years

<p>By Riyaz ul Khaliq</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Japan on Tuesday decided to extend sanctions against North Korea for another two years, local media reported.</p> <p>According to the daily Japan Times, the sanctions aim to maintain pressure on Pyongyang to &quot;denuclearize and resolve its past abductions of Japanese nationals.&quot;</p> <p>Japan has had unilateral sanctions in place against North Korea ever since Pyongyang’s first nuclear arms test in 2006.</p> <p>It has extended sanctions many times since, with the latest package facing expiration on Saturday.</p> <p>&quot;The sanctions impose a total ban on bilateral exports and imports, and forbid the entry into Japan of North Korean-registered ships, as well as vessels that have stopped at a North Korean port,&quot; the newspaper reported.</p> <p>Tokyo also blames Pyongyang for the abduction of 17 of its nationals.</p> <p>The daily noted that Japanese premier Shinzo Abe expressed &quot;willingness to engage with North Korea through direct talks with leader Kim Jong-un to resolve the abduction issue.&quot;</p> <p>Early in March, Japan refrained from sponsoring a UN resolution condemning North Korea for human rights abuses.</p> <p>&quot;The abduction issue has prevented the normalization of diplomatic ties between Tokyo and Pyongyang,&quot; the report said.</p><br>