Japan Considers New Sanctions on N. Korea
These would be severe:
Tokyo may ban cash remittances and freeze assets held by North Korea in Japan, according to local media.
A ban on bilateral trade is also under consideration. Japan is in a foul mood over North Korea’s threats, and it appears dissatisfied with the limited sanctions imposed by the U.N. Japan has recently coordinated its actions closely with the United States, which causes one to wonder what additional measures the U.S. will impose, and whether it will be enough of a shock to destabilize the North’s system of privileges, rewards, and sustenance for its elite.
Banning cash remittances to NK is absolutely essential. NK aligned Koreans in Japan are the lifeline of the regime in North Korea. The remittances also damage community relations between Koreans and Japanese living in Japan, as it is widely held that the financing for the Taepodong missile was from those remittances.