Junichiro Koizumi

Koizumi, asked at a Diet hearing about economic sanctions against North Korea, said: "It would not mean anything unless it's effective.

"I have been trying to find a way that is most effective to resolve the problem" of the kidnappings, Koizumi said.

Shinzo Abe, acting secretary-general of Koizumi's governing Liberal-Democratic Party, said Jan. 30 that Japan may announce sanctions in February and wait to see North Korea's response.

The sanctions against the cash-strapped dictatorship could include stopping imports of its fishery products, banning port calls by its ships or blocking remittances by its nationals in Japan.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 5, 2005
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