Japan said Saturday it will push for a punitive U.N. resolution if North Korea conducts a nuclear test despite a Security Council warning, amid reports that Tokyo plans to step up its own economic sanctions against the reclusive communist regime, AP reported. North Korea's threat to conduct its first nuclear weapon test has prompted grave international concern, and its neighbors on Saturday applauded the Security Council statement urging the North to cancel the test, which could come as early as Sunday. The statement warned of unspecified consequences if North Korea proceeds with the test, and urged it to return immediately to talks on scrapping its nuclear weapons program. Foreign Minister Taro Aso welcomed the statement, saying Japan sees a possible nuclear test by North Korea as «a grave threat to the peace and security of not only Japan but also of northeast Asia and the international community.» «If North Korea conducts a nuclear weapons test despite the concerns expressed by international society, the Security Council must adopt a resolution outlining severely punitive measures,» Aso said in a statement released after the council meeting.
