TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday decided to impose a ban on exporting luxury goods to North Korea in a move experts say could dent morale among the nation's elite who receive such items as perks.

Japan's cabinet approved bans on exports of 24 kinds of luxury goods to North Korea including cars, wrist-watches, liquor, cigarettes, jewellery, perfume and caviar.

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution that among other measures blocks trade with North Korea in luxury goods following Pyongyang's nuclear test on October 9.

"We have decided to take measures to ban exports of luxury goods to North Korea in response to the (UN Security Council) resolution," Foreign Minister Taro Aso told Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

Japan first imposed punitive measures after Pyongyang fired off a barrage of test missiles in July and stepped them up after its nuclear test on October 9. They include a ban on imports and a prohibition on North Korean ships entering Japanese ports.

Japan's total trade with North Korea amounted to some $180 million in 2005, about half the 2002 figure.

North Korea said recently it would return to six-party talks on ending its nuclear programmes.

But Japan said it would maintain its sanctions on North Korea despite Pyongyang's agreement to return to the talks, which bring together North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Tokyo said the sanctions would not be lifted until the state committed to abandoning its nuclear ambitions.