Japan to extend sanctions against N Korea

---

TOKYO, Mar 30 (AFP): Japan signalled Tuesday it will next month extend sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes and also keep pushing to resolve the past kidnappings of Japanese nationals.
Top government spokesman Hirofumi Hirano said "there is no reason not to extend" the sanctions, which include a trade ban, the denial of visas to North Koreans, and restrictions on remittances by Koreans living in Japan.
Japan first imposed unilateral sanctions against the Stalinist regime in 2006 after Pyongyang's first nuclear test and has extended them every six or 12 months while tightening them and also enforcing UN sanctions.