Eight Pacific-rim countries, including South Korea, the United States and Japan, have agreed to block illicit shipments to North Korea of materials that could be used for military purposes.

After a meeting in Tokyo on Monday, they pledged to establish an international network that will enable them to share information on ships suspected of carrying such materials to the communist state via a third country.

The participants of the meeting also agreed to legislate measures to enforce controls of illegal exports and to train anti-proliferation experts.