Japan's additional sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its rocket launch will take effect on May 12, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Friday.

The cabinet on Friday approved the new sanctions, which will reduce the amount of remittance to the DPRK subjected to reporting from more than 30 million yen (about 298,000 US dollars) to more than 10 million yen (about 99,480 dollars).

Meanwhile, travelers to the DPRK will be required to declare sums in excess of 300,000 yen (about 2,984 dollars), instead of the current more than 1 million yen (about 9,948 dollars).

"The measure is aimed at getting a clearer picture of fund flows" to the DPRK, Kawamura told reporters.

Japan is also determined to extend the current sanctions, including a ban on port calls by DPRK-registered vessels, by one year instead of six months.

Japan imposed sanctions on the DPRK in July 2006 after it test-fired ballistic missiles, and placed a ban on imports from the country following the nuclear test in October that year. The sanctions have since been extended every six months.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)