Christopher Hill AP PHOTO

The government's decision to extend the measures comes as North Korea promised to shut down its main nuclear reactor -- though it acknowledged it will fail to meet an April 14 deadline to shut down its nuclear program because of the late resolution of a dispute over frozen North Korean funds.

The sanctions were adopted last October, a move taken independently from measures the U.N. Security Council adopted later that month against Pyongyang for its nuclear test.

Tokyo's measures include closing ports to North Korean ships and banning the import of North Korean goods. The Cabinet agreed to extend those measures for another six months, Cabinet Office spokeswoman Miwako Fujishige said.

The extension also comes as Japan and North Korea remain at odds over Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens.

Meanwhile, U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said April 10 that North Korea's willingness to invite U.N. inspectors into the country.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan told a U.S. delegation in Pyongyang on April 9 that his government would invite inspectors back "the moment the funds are released to the North Korean government."

North Korea made a breakthrough agreement on nuclear disarmament Feb. 13, raising hopes for an end to a standoff with the United States and regional powers. The agreement set an April 14 deadline for the North to shut down its main nuclear reactor.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 14, 2007
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