Japanese police have arrested a Korean-Japanese man on charges of illegally transferring money to North Korea.

A Japanese police officer said that a 66-year-old Korean-Japanese man identified by his surname “Kim” was arrested on charges of evading taxes worth 170 million yen, or about one-point-four million dollars.

The funds were allegedly sent to North Korea through the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chochongryon. Kim runs a lamb restaurant on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Japanese police also arrested a Chochongryon official, identified only by his surname "Ha," who allegedly aided Kim, providing accounting services without a license.

Tokyo has been tightening surveillance on members of the pro-Pyongyang association who are suspected of sending money to North Korea since it conducted nuclear and missile tests last year.