Japan and seven Pacific Rim economies including China, South Korea and the United States agreed Monday to take effective measures to prevent North Korea from obtaining, through indirect exports, illegal products with military potential.
Japanese officials said the eight economies reached an agreement to establish a system through which they can inform each other about suspicious trade practices.
Although it is becoming harder to make illegal exports to North Korea from Japan, many Asian nations still have loose export controls and could be used for indirect exports to North Korea, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.