Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko believes the sanctions imposed by Japan on North Korea and Russia are “appropriate” and “effective.”

Kamikawa was responding to a question from Arab News Japan about whether the sanctions imposed on the two countries were achieving their goals or leading to the possibility of greater confrontations.

“Japan’s measures toward North Korea are taken from the perspective of what is most effective toward a comprehensive resolution of pending issues,” Kamikawa told a press conference in Tokyo on Friday. “Japan will continue to examine the issues and respond appropriately constantly.”

“Japan’s consistent policy on the issue of North Korea is to comprehensively resolve problems such as the abduction and nuclear issues and the firing of missiles, to settle the issues of our unfortunate past and to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea based on the Pyongyang Declaration.”

Kamikawa’s “effectiveness” claims don’t appear to have registered with North Korea, which has greatly expanded its military capabilities, especially missiles, even as sanctions have increased. North Korea frequently laughs off the sanctions Japan has imposed.

Kamikawa noted that Japan-Russia relations are “in a difficult situation due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.“ Japan has a long-standing territorial dispute over northern islands annexed by Russia at the end of World War II.

“We believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an attempt by force to change the status quo and an act that shakes the foundations of the international order not only in Europe but also in Asia,“ Kamikawa said. “It is necessary to show that such actions come at a high price.”

Kamikawa declined to expand further on the peace diplomacy treaty toward Russia but said Japan is “determined to maintain its policy of resolving the Northern Territories issue and concluding a peace treaty.”

Kamikawa failed to recognize that Japan’s sanctions on Russia completely derailed any hope for a peace settlement. Japan has lived in the hope of regaining its Northern Territories for decades, but Russia has slapped down any attempt to revive negotiations and has taken a far more aggressive position against It. Japan’s sanctions against Russia have done nothing to stop Russia’s offensive against Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Kamikawa said Japan will continue to take “stringent sanctions“against Russia and North Korea in cooperation with the G7 countries and other nations.