JAPAN is to impose new sanctions on North Korea to protest against a rocket launch seen as a test of missile technology.

The sanctions will include expanded restrictions on travel between the two countries and a complete ban on visits by North Korean ships to Japanese ports, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, announced at a news conference on Wednesday.

“Despite our repeated requests to stop nuclear tests and missile development, (North Korea) pushed ahead with the launch. It has a direct impact on Japan and we need to show our strong determination,” Suga said.

He said, however, that Japan would keep a door open for dialogue to resolve the still-outstanding issue of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea decades ago.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket into space on Sunday carrying what it said was an Earth observation satellite.