New Sanctions Target North Korea

Japan and Australia have announced new financial sanctions against North Korea, stepping up pressure on the secretive state over missile tests. The sanctions will freeze the transfer of money to North Korea by groups suspected of having links to its nuclear or missile programs. The move, which follows similar action by the US, comes after Pyongyang launched several missiles in July. South Korea has urged other countries not to push the North into a corner. The South is worried that the North may retaliate by carrying out a nuclear test, which would destroy any remaining hope of a diplomatic solution to the stand-off. Japanese government spokesman Shinzo Abe said the new sanctions were in line with a United Nations resolution which denounced the missile tests. The Japanese measures affect 15 groups and one individual, and will come into effect later on Tuesday, according to Japanese media.