Japan mulls unilateral sanctions on DPRK

TOKYO - The Japanese Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it will fly military jets to survey radiation over the country after an "artificial quake," possibly a nuclear test, was detected in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered relative government organs to analyze the information of the earthquake and the possible nuclear test.

Abe said in lower house separately that Japan will seek close communication with the United States, South Korea and China on the issue, adding Japan is mulling imposing unilateral sanctions on the DPRK.

Japan convened a national security meeting at around 12: 45 local time after the quake was detected.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) detected a 5.2 magnitude earthquake with the epicenter locating at 41.2 degree north latitude and 129.3 east longitude in the DPRK territory.

Suga said the DPRK, which vowed to conduct a higher level nuclear test in the area where the temblor had been detected, possibly conducted the nuclear test.

Early Tuesday, the DPRK's official news agency KCNA reported that the country will continue to carry out long-range rockets.