Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu on Tuesday maintained the narrative that sanctions on Russia are in place with the aim of achieving “a sustainable peace regarding the offensive activities in Ukraine.”

Motegi was asked at a regular press conference if Japan’s sanctions policies on Russia and North Korea were achieving their goals when those nuclear weapons’ countries, along with China, appear to be strengthening already close ties.

Motegi replied that Japan “is not imposing sanctions for the sake of sanctions.” Sanctions on Russia, he said, were made in coordination with the international community. However, he couldn’t say how they were being effective.

“While it is difficult to state the effects [of sanctions] in a general way, we believe they are having a certain impact on the Russian economy,” he stated. The point of the sanctions, he added, is to bring about peace.

Regarding North Korea, Motegi again said sanctions were imposed in line with measures based on UN Security Council resolutions, adding that Japan has also imposed its own separate sanctions, which, he said, are “measures toward resolving the pending issues.”

The Japanese Foreign Minister did not elaborate on the effectiveness of the sanctions on North Korea or if the “pending issues” are being resolved.