Japan, U.S., Other Countries Vow to Block N. Korea Smuggling

January 14, 2018

Washington- Japan, the United States and 15 other countries on Friday confirmed the policy of boosting efforts to block North Korea's smuggling activities, based on U.N. Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.

The United States, which is leading the campaign to maximize pressure on North Korea, aims to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions in order to cut off the reclusive country's financing to its nuclear and missile development programs.

The policy was included in a joint statement issued by the 17 countries, all of which are members of the Proliferation Security Initiative aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The statement calls for directing vessels refusing inspections on the high seas to proceed to an appropriate port for required checks.

It also urges member countries to prohibit vessels flying their flags to trade any goods or items with North Korean-flagged vessels that are being shipped to or from the communist country.

"It is imperative for us to redouble our efforts to put maximum pressure on North Korea through the full implementation of the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," the statement said.

They also urged all U.N. member states to fully abide by the resolutions.

The PSI was created in 2003 by then U.S. President George W. Bush in order to fight the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The countries that joined the statement included South Korea, Britain, Germany, France and Australia. Jiji Press