Japan on Tuesday dealt another blow to North Korea, imposing financial sanctions under a U.N. Security Council resolution that urges countries to prevent the transfer of funds for Pyongyang's weapons program.
Financial institutions in Japan are now banned from conducting fund transfers and overseas remittances to 15 North Korea-linked financial institutions and trading firms as well as Jakob Steiger, the president of Swiss company Kohas AG.
The government said the 15 entities are suspected of having links with Pyongyang's development of missiles and weapons of mass destruction. It did not disclose any other details, such as the roles they have played in Pyongyang's weapons program.