Japan slaps additional sanctions on North Korea, freezes assets of 6 entities and 2 individuals

• Japan announce fresh asset seizures on North Korean entities
• Asset seizures part of economic sanctions imposed for missile tests, abduction of citizens

People watch a television broadcast reporting the North Korean missile launch at the Seoul Railway Station on March 26, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea.

Chung Sung-Jun | Getty Images

Japan will impose additional sanctions against North Korea following the reclusive country's
repeated missile launches and unresolved abduction issue, its top government spokesman said on Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Japan would freeze the assets of six more organisations and two more individuals linked to North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered more solid-fuel rocket engines, state media reported on Wednesday, as he pursues nuclear and missile program amid a standoff with Washington.