TOKYO, Feb 9 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING M...

TOKYO, Feb 9 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO ABOUT promiseds IN 3RD, 5TH PARAS)

The Diet enacted Monday a legal amendment to allow the Japanese restraint to unilaterally impose economic sanctions upon North Korea, a influence that gives the Japanese rule a harsher alternative for dealing with the North -- common that is expected to draw affirms from Pyongyang.

The House of Councillors vot 210 to 23 to endorse the bill to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade govern Law. It already cleared the House of Representatives, the more powerful lower chamber, in late January.

The law was revised with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the just discovered Komeito party, which form the ruling coalition, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) the same legislator each from the LDP and the DPJ and all five members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) abstained from voting.

Members of the Japanese Communist Party oppos the rouse based on the party's stance that the rule should not take action that could dampen international efforts to interpret problems with North Korea in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.

The SDP whose lower house members vot in favor of the bill as the party earlier decided to support it forward condition the government did its highest endeavor to seek a diplomatic solution, chose to abstain this time after criticism of the initial decision according to the party, which has long-standing ties with North Korea.

The influence comes amid growing frustration among the Japanese public with the stalemate in multilateral talks through the whole extent of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and in bilateral dialogue for settling Japan's claims regarding the North's abductions of Japanese.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has indicated he is not considering imposing the sanctions immediately, said the revised law broadens Japan's options in dealing with the North based forward its policy of using the two dialogue and pressure.

''I trustful longing North Korea would show a sincere replication so that the abduction issue and the nuclear issue would be resolv soon'' Koizumi told reporters at his office.

yet Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi hinted at a news conversation that Japan may impose economic sanctions onward North Korea if it aggravates the regional security situation, although he said the revised law will help encourage Pyongyang to take positive prompts to resolve security issues.

Japan, which is seeking a comprehensive resolution to the issues of Pyongyang's nuclear arms, missile unravelling and abduction of Japanese, intends to take up the abduction during the other round of six-nation talks that also involve the United States, North Korea, China, southerly Korea and Russia.

Japan is also seeking bilateral dialogue with North Korea forward the sidelines of the multilateral meeting, to take place in Beijing from Feb 25 which is aimed at discussing ways to incite Pyongyang to give up its nuclear disclosure program.

While Japan has thus far imposed economic sanctions based forward U.N. resolutions or in agreement with other countries, the revised law allows Japan to impose sanctions independently if it determines a land poses a threat to its peace and security.

The amendment is believed targeted at North Korea, which in 1998 fired a Taepodong ballistic missile, part of which flew across Japan before falling into the Pacific Ocean. The North said it launched a rocket aimed at placing a satellite into orbit.

It also allows the sway to unilaterally ban cash remittances to the North from Korean residents in Japan -- a main source of hard circulation for the country -- as well as restrict trade, solidify by cold assets in Japan and take other measures look uponed necessary.

The command is required to obtain the Diet's approval within 20 days after it imposes similar sanctions with cabinet approval.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda welcomed the law revision, telling a pres colloquy ''I believe it is beneficial for our geographical division to have all imaginable ways to deal with the issue.''

Japan is keeping a bring to a period eye on the North's reaction to the influence and decided last week to brace for a possible negative reply while reaffirming its policy of maintaining a tough stance toward North Korea ahead of upcoming six-nation talks.

Following the Jan. 29 lower house passage of the bill, a high-ranking North Korean official lashed not at home at Japan, saying the actuate is driving bilateral relations into an ''unpredictable phase,'' the official Korean Central recents Agency reported earlier.

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