A Japanese daily says Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is seeking to establish a new law on North Korea's human rights.

If enacted, the legislation would be Japan's third legal sanction against North Korea following one limiting the remittance of money to the North and another banning certain North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports. Those two laws were enacted last year.

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party is also reportedly seeking to legislate a similar law.

Correspondingly, the legislation may be passed during the first regular parliamentary session of the year, scheduled for January 21.