LDP lawmaker wants tougher sanctions against N Korea

Japan should impose tougher sanctions against North Korea, including maritime inspection, if Pyongyang conducts a nuclear test as earlier announced, a senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party member said Sunday.

"From now on, we need to step up the level of pressure such as conducting inspections at sea or stopping exports and imports," Shoichi Nakagawa, chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, said on a television program. Nakagawa also noted the possibility that Japan will solely impose sanctions on North Korea before the international society does so. He said he will call for the Diet to pass a resolution on North Korean issues.