The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that will allow Japan to unilaterally impose economic sanctions on North Korea, paving the way for its endorsement by the full Diet by the end of next week.

The amendment to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law cleared the chamber's plenary session with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party, its ruling bloc ally New Komeito, as well as two opposition parties -- the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party.

The Japanese Communist Party voted against the bill. The ruling parties plan to get the bill passed by the Upper House on Feb. 6.