Japan's parliament to consider sanctions against North Korea

Japan's parliament to consider sanctions against North Korea

Japan's ruling coalition Friday submitted a bill to parliament to impose sanctions on North Korea over its past abductions of Japanese citizens, Kyodo News agency reported.

The bill gives the government the option of not imposing the sanctions if North Korea cooperates to solve the kidnappings, Kyodo said, but it would push Tokyo closer to punishing Pyongyang over the abductions.

North Korea in 2002 admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens and allowed five to return, saying the other eight were dead. Japan, however, has demanded proof of the deaths, and suspects other citizens have also been kidnapped by the North, reports the AP.

I.L.