Japan eyes new sanctions on N. Korea

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama instructed his ministers Monday to consider new sanctions against North Korea over the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan with a torpedo, resulting in 46 sailor deaths.

Hatoyama convened a meeting of the Security Council of Japan earlier Monday to thrash out the issue. His instructions came on the same day that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak addressed his nation and announced new sanctions that will virtually stop all contact between the two Koreas.

Japan already has a number of sanctions in place against North Korea, including a ban on port calls by North Korean ships. Those sanctions stem from the test-firing of ballistic missiles as well as nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang in recent years.

Among the new measures that may be considered are the strengthening of restrictions on travel to and from North Korea as well as the transferring of money to North Korea.

At the Security Council meeting, Hatoyama said, "We strongly support President Lee," who announced his intention to pursue North Korea's responsibility in the matter and call for discussions on the issue at the U.N. Security Council.

Hatoyama instructed his ministers to work on four areas:

* Strengthening cooperation with their South Korean and U.S. counterparts, including how to pursue the matter at the U.N. Security Council;

* Drawing up new sanctions;

* Working for early passage of a special measures bill to allow for cargo inspections of ships that enter and leave North Korea; and

* Strengthening intelligence-gathering to secure the safety of the public.

Some government officials believe Japan has already implemented all available sanctions that would have any effect on Pyongyang, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said in announcing Hatoyama's instructions, "As a neighbor of South Korea, we made the decision on the understanding that the situation, including national security, was very grave."

Hatoyama talked with Lee by phone on Monday evening and voiced his support for the steps being taken by the South Korean government.

Lee thanked Hatoyama and expressed his intention to continue close cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the United States.

In Washington, a statement was issued under the name of the presidential spokesman saying that President Barack Obama had instructed a thorough review of U.S. policy toward North Korea as well as closer cooperation with the South Korean military to prepare for any further attacks by Pyongyang.