It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

JAPAN PASSES BILL THAT ALLOWS FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST THE DPRK

Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press (AP), 28 January 2004

Japan's lower house passed a bill Thursday to make it easier to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, a step aimed at pressuring Pyongyang to hand over relatives of Japanese abducted decades ago. Backed by both the ruling and main opposition parties, the legislation passed easily with a majority of lawmakers standing in show of support. There was no official tally of the vote. The bill does not mention North Korea, but lawmakers say it is aimed at the reclusive state.

But Koizumi is quick to stress that there are no plans to actually impose sanctions on North Korea any time soon. Sounds like good cop, bad cop to me.