Japan Freezes Assets of Russian Organisations over N.Korea's Weapons Projects

Japan announced, on Friday, it was freezing the assets of four Russian organisations, three Russian inpiduals and six North Korean inpiduals for involvement in missiles.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry expanded sanctions against North Korea by newly freezing the assets of four Russian organizations and nine inpiduals of the reclusive Asian country for their involvement in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs.

Top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, affirmed that the measure, approved at a Cabinet meeting in the morning and to take effect the same day, is part of Japan's efforts to comprehensively resolve issues involving North Korea.

"Japan urges North Korea to take concrete actions toward resolving issues" including its nuclear and missile development programs, Matsuno told a regular news conference.

Referring to the additional sanctions at a House of Councillors session, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: "We will continue to do everything to gather information and monitor the situation while ensuring the peace and security of our country."