Japan Bans All North Korean Ships, Imports

日本禁止所有北韩船只及进口品入港

Japanese officials have approved new economic sanctions against North Korea, banning all North Korean imports and ships and most North Korean nationals. Officials said Japan is imposing the sanctions because it is the country most threatened by North Korea's long-range missiles and nuclear weapons programs.

The South Korean defense minister said the military will likely "improve and enlarge" its forces to respond to a potential nuclear threat from North Korea.

North Korea said Monday it had conducted a nuclear weapons test. In response to U.N. Security Council deliberations about possible sanctions, Pyongyang said it considers continued pressure from the United States to be a declaration of war. The country's official news agency KCNA said Pyongyang will take "physical countermeasures" if Washington keeps pressing the government of Kim Jong Il over its nuclear program.

日本官员批准对北韩实行新的经济制裁措施，禁止北韩进口品和船只以及绝大多数北韩公民进入日本。有关官员说，实施制裁是因为日本是受北韩远程导弹和核武器项目威胁最大的国家。

韩国国防部长官表示，韩国军队可能会改良和扩增，作为对北韩潜在核威胁的反应。

北韩星期一宣布进行了核武器试验。平壤对联合国安理会考虑对其进行制裁做出反应，表示将把美国的持续压力看作是向北韩宣战。北韩官方媒体朝鲜中央社说，如果华盛顿继续就核项目向金正日政府施压，平壤将采取“实质性对抗手段。”