Japan's parliament approves N.Korea ferry ban

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Japan's parliament on Wednesday retroactively approved a ban on a North Korean trade ferry from Japanese ports, imposed after the reclusive regime tested seven missiles in July. The parliament's upper house voted unanimously to approve the ban on North Korean vessel Mangyongbong-92, which served as a major trade conduit between the two countries. The North test-fired seven missiles into waters between Japan and the Korean peninsula in July, triggering international protest and limited sanctions from Tokyo. Japan stepped up its sanctions after the North's nuclear test on Oct. 9, banning all of the country's vessels from Japanese ports, all imports from North Korea and severely limiting travel from the country.