Japanese Lawmakers Submit N. Korea Human Rights Bill

A team within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Thursday drafted a North Korean Human Rights Act emphasizing the protection of defectors from the North. After revision, the bill will be submitted to the Diet early next month.

The bill calls for Japanese legations to protect defectors who enter their premises. It also regulates financial support for groups helping defectors, and seeks improved relations with other nations to solve the kidnapping of Japanese by Pyongyang. The bill is a third round of fire aimed at the North following foreign exchange law revisions and port bans passed by the Diet last year. The bills ban remittances to North Korea and bar North Korean ships from Japanese ports.

Japan is still considering sanctions as well. North Korean seafood imports appear to be high on the hit list.