TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday indicated that Japan plans to consider imposing additional sanctions on North Korea.

“We’d like to consider seriously our response from the perspective of how we should strengthen pressure on North Korea in order to achieve maximum effect, based on the latest step taken by the United States,” top government spokesman told a press conference.

Suga was referring to additional U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang, announced on Friday, targeting 56 shipping and trading companies and vessels engaged in smuggling on North Korea’s behalf to evade U.N. sanctions against the reclusive state.

“Japan wants to cooperate with the United States and South Korea to increase pressure to the maximum by all possible means to create a situation in which Pyongyang will come to seek talks,” Suga said.

He also commented on the positive attitude shown by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, toward dialogue with the United States.

“The United States is in a position to see whether or not North Korea is showing readiness to take the first step toward denuclearization,” Suga said, stressing the need to watch the moves of Pyongyang.