Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe suggested Sunday that Japan may consider imposing sanctions on North Korea.
If the nuclear crisis in the country were to escalate, Abe said sanctions could include barring one of North Korea's vessels from Niigata port.
"We now want to remain calm, refrain from imposing sanctions and resolve the matter through dialogue," said Abe. "But if North Korea keeps escalating (the crisis), world opinion could change greatly."