Japan yesterday decided to impose a ban on exporting luxury goods to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The cabinet approved bans on exports of 24 kinds of luxury goods to the DPRK including cars, wrist-watches, liquor, cigarettes, jewellery, perfume and caviar.

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution that among other measures blocks trade with the DPRK in luxury goods following Pyongyang's nuclear test on October 9.

"We have decided to take measures to ban exports of luxury goods to North Korea (the DPRK) in response to the (UN Security Council) resolution," Foreign Minister Taro Aso told yesterday's cabinet meeting.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said the items accounted for 15.9 per cent, or 1.09 billion yen (US$9.23 million) of Japan's total exports to the DPRK worth 6.88 billion yen (US$58.3 million) in 2005.

Shiozaki said Japan had decided not to include in the list of banned items daily necessities used by ordinary people in the DPRK.

Source: China Daily