Japan imposes new ban on pro-DPRK group

TOKYO - Japan decided Tuesday to impose an additional ban on a pro-Pyongyang organization after condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its third nuclear test the same day.

As part of the latest unilateral sanctions against the DPRK, Japan will widen a re-entry ban on senior officials of the General Association of Korean Residents, also known as Chongryon, according to a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe also said Pyongyang's nuke test was "a grave threat to Japan" and can't be "tolerated."

He said the test, having damaged peace and security in Northeast Asia, was unacceptable.

Earlier Tuesday, Abe told the lower house that the government was mulling imposing unilateral sanctions on the DPRK over the nuclear test, which he called "regrettable" and "violated relevant resolutions approved by the UN Security Council."

Meanwhile, the Japanese Foreign Ministry has lodged protest with the DPRK, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga at a press conference this afternoon.

Suga said Abe would hold talks with the US ambassador to Japan over the test and a trilateral leader's meeting, involving Japan, South Korea and the United States, would be held to discuss counter measures against the DPRK.

Suga added that Japan will enhance radiation monitoring after the test.

On Tuesday, the DPRK announced that it has successfully conducted its third nuclear test in the northeast part of the country, drawing condemnations from South Korea, the United States, Russia and the United Nations.