As North Korea and Russia cozy up, Tokyo and Seoul clamp down

SEOUL -- Top Japanese and South Korean finance officials agreed Tuesday to cooperate on improving the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and North Korea, as well as on tackling illicit funding for weapons development.

A joint news release from Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and South Korean counterpart Choi Sang-mok after their economic dialogue here underscored the alarm over moves by Moscow and Pyongyang to build closer security ties.