The Japanese government decided on Tuesday to ban exports to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and toughen restrictions on personnel flow as additional sanctions on Pyongyang in response to its nuclear test in May.

As Japan has already banned imports from the DPRK, the additional measures will lead to the complete suspension of bilateral trade.

"Japan has conducted many kinds of sanctions on Pyongyang ... we hope they can read our information seriously," top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura told a press conference Tuesday.

Japan's sanctions on DPRK already included a ban on port calls by the DPRK-registered vessels and tighter rules on fund transfers to Pyongyang.

The latest decision, endorsed by the cabinet, followed the UN Security Council's adoption of a resolution on Friday to impose a broad range of additional sanctions on the DPRK.

On personnel restriction, the government has decided not to allow foreigners residing in Japan to reenter Japan if they violate existing restrictions on trade or monetary measures and travel to Pyongyang.

Non-Japanese ship crew who violate such restrictions would basically not be permitted to make a landing either.

In 2008, the Japanese exports to the DPRK reached roughly 800 million yen (about 8 million US dollars).

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2009)