Japan has toughened sanctions on North Korea, in response to Pyongyang's controversial rocket launch.

Tokyo will tighten controls on funds to Pyongyang, and on trade with the North.

Takeo Kawamura is Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary.

"We think we need to impose new sanctions against North Korea. Up to now, we have imposed sanctions on the exchange of people and commodity. But, we decided that we need to impose sanctions on the exchange of money as we find it necessary to investigate the flow of cash between the two nations."

Kawamura says the new measures will lower the cap on remittances that must be reported to the Japanese Government, and reduce the amount of money visitors can carry, into the North.

Tokyo first imposed sanctions on North Korea, after Pyongyang's nuclear bomb test three years ago.

The old sanctions, expire on Monday.