JAPAN IN THE FRAY

Japan threw its support to U.N. economic sanctions against North Korea, even as Pyongyang reiterated that any such move would be considered an act of war. Tokyo declared that it may even join an action brought by only the U.S. and South Korea, if the U.N. proved too indecisive, a strong stand for the Japanese government. About 50 miles of the Korean strait separates Japan from Korea.