Tokyo announces new sanctions targeting North Korean individuals and companies; FM Nakasone meets with Clinton at Phuket, urges closer cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue; PM Aso dissolves Lower House on July 20
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    • Tokyo announced that it would freeze assets of 5 North Korean individuals, four companies and a government bureau in compliance with new UN sanctions for their alleged links to Pyongyang's nuclear programme1.

    Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, after his meeting with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Phuket, Thailand on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting, urged closer cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. He also discussed with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi the crucial role that Beijing should play as a close ally of Pyongyang2.

    In domestic developments, Prime Minister Taro Aso finally dissolved the lower house on July 20 ahead of general elections slated for August 30. Public surveys have indicated that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party could lose to the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan3.

    Reports meanwhile have suggested that President Obama will veto a $680 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2010 if lawmakers insist on setting aside funding for more F-22 fighters than the Defense Department has requested. The move indicates the strong resolve of Obama to suspend production of the F-22, which Japan was hoping to make the mainstay of its air force in the near future. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morell on his part stated that the F-22 would be expensive for Japan even if the US lifted a ban on its export and urged Tokyo to consider purchasing the F-35 fighter instead4.

    In other developments, Japan has ratified an international treaty banning the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs, bringing the number of signatory countries to 145.

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