Nakasone calls for N. Korean restraint, DPJ's Okada eying tough stance

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TOKYO, Sept. 4 Kyodo -
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on Friday called on North Korea to
''refrain from behavior that raises tension'' in the region in response to a
report by the official Korean Central News Agency that the North's uranium
enrichment experiment has progressed to the final phase.
The latest development also drew reaction from Katsuya Okada, a senior
Democratic Party of Japan member expected to get a key Cabinet post in the
incoming DPJ-led administration, who stressed the need to take a ''tough''
stance against the North.
''I think discussions should be held at the U.N. Security Council. If that's
not sufficient, there is an option (for Japan to impose additional sanctions on
the North),'' Okada told a press conference, while deploring North Korea for
ignoring related U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The remarks were made after North Korea said in a letter sent Thursday to the
U.N. Security Council that its uranium enrichment experiment has progressed to
the final phase and plutonium extracted from a resumed nuclear facility is
being weaponized, according to KCNA.
The letter also said North Korea ''totally rejects the UNSC 'Resolution 1874,'
which was unfairly orchestrated in June 13 in wanton violation of the DPRK's
sovereignty and dignity and that the DPRK will never be bound by this
resolution.''
DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, Democratic People's
Republic of Korea.
Speaking at a separate press conference, Nakasone said that Japan ''wants North
Korea to implement related U.N. Security Council resolutions and to
constructively respond'' toward realizing agreements reached at the six-party
talks aimed at denuclearizing the North.
Nakasone also said that Japan will continue to cooperate closely with the
United States, South Korea and China in dealing with North Korea, noting the
importance of ''peacefully'' resolving outstanding issues through the six-party
talks and dialogue between related countries.
The talks involving North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United
States have been stalled since December over ways to verify Pyongyang's nuclear
activities.
North Korea said it will quit the talks in protest at a U.N. Security Council
statement condemning its rocket launch in April, which was widely seen as a
disguised missile test.
It also conducted its second nuclear test in May, which led the U.N. Security
Council to adopt Resolution 1874 aimed at punishing the country.
In response to the nuclear test, the Japanese government decided to totally ban
exports to North Korea and toughen restrictions on the flow of people as
additional sanctions on Pyongyang.
As Japan has already banned imports from North Korea, the additional measures
have led to the complete suspension of bilateral trade.
==Kyodo