[jdm]

The sources said these plans would market a shift in policy from Koizumi's "dialogue and pressure" against North Korea to one stressing "pressure."

Good news for the region, if not the entire world, IMO.

[Fee]

US and Japan combine their financial power to shut down NK financial pipeline with outside banks is going to hurt. This will be the first usage of soft power (financial institutions) against another country. This will be interesting to watch. Will Russian and Chinese banks want to be shut from the US and Japanese markets if they continue to support NK.