Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe on Tuesday defended Japan's rejection of requests by five North Koreans to enter the country, saying the action was appropriate in view of stricter regulations imposed following Pyongyang's July 5 missile launches.
A senior government official said the government has information that some of the five are strongly linked to Pyongyang's intelligence activities against Japan.
Abe dismissed criticism the rejection violated the would-be entrants' human rights.