News[JURIST] Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in talks Friday with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun that economic sanctions were a possibility against North Korea in the wake of growing Japanese public hostility towards Pyongyang for kidnapping of Japanese citizens in previous decades for use in training programs for its intelligence operatives. Tensions between the two countries rose last month after the return of the supposed ashes of two kidnapped Japanese citizens. DNA testing revealed that the ashes did not, hoewver, belong to the alleged kidnap victims. Koizumi acknowledged that the mistake might have been an honest one, but warned that the Japanese citizenry was becoming dissatisfied with what it sees as North Korea foot-dragging. North Korea said earlier this week that it would consider the imposition of sanctions by Japan a "declaration of war." JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the talks between Japan and North Korea. Yomiuri has more.
