Diet lawmakers who have adopted a hardline stance on North Korea agreed Tuesday to submit bills during this legislative session that would allow the government to slap economic and other sanctions on Pyongyang.
The most controversial piece of legislation advocates banning the re-entry of ethnic Korean residents of Japan who are deemed to be members of groups plotting subversive activities, once they have left the country. This legislation was drafted by Democratic Party of Japan member Shingo Nishimura.
The other two bills would allow Japan to impose unilateral economic sanctions, including blocking money remittances to North Korea, and to prevent North Korean vessels or foreign ships that have stopped at North Korea from entering Japanese ports.
The group said these measures are needed to help "maintain the peace and security" of Japan.
Although the three bills were approved at Tuesday's meeting, some participants opposed the legislation proposed by Nishimura.
"Drafting of sanctions legislation is about dealing with a nation that has done severe wrongdoing," Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kenichi Mizuno said.
"But I don't think it is right to punish ethic Koreans in Japan just because North Korea is a nefarious country."
Under the current Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, Japan cannot implement economic sanctions without a United Nations resolution or an agreement with another country to do so.
The last of the three bills would allow the government to ban North Korean vessels or foreign ships that have stopped at North Korea from entering Japanese ports. The captain of a vessel violating the ban would face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 3 million yen.
Since the DPJ has agreed to back the bill on remittances, it is expected to be proposed by the Lower House Financial Affairs Committee chairman, thus ensuring speedy debate.