Japan may toughen sanctions against Russia, North Korea over their cooperation — NHK

TOKYO:  The government of Japan is considering the possibility of tightening sanctions in regard to Russia and North Korea in view of their developing cooperation, Japan’s TV broadcaster NHK reported on Monday citing its unnamed sources.

According to the Japanese broadcaster, Tokyo is concerned that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has allegedly an impact on security in Europe and Asia, and Japan also believes that such interaction between Russia and North Korea "violates international law."

Earlier this month the authorities of Russia and North Korea ratified the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. This document was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the Russian head of state’s visit to Pyongyang in June.

According to one of the provisions of the treaty, both sides agreed to provide each other with military assistance in the event of aggression.

"In the event that one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack by one or more states and thus finds itself in a state of war, the other party shall immediately render military and other assistance by all means at its disposal in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the fourth article of the treaty states.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that strategic cooperation between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not unusual or extraordinary, despite the West’s attempts to demonize it.

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