So, the Japanese have decided to stop sending the North "beef, tuna meat, caviar and its substitutes, liquor, cars, motorcycles, motorboats, yachts, watches, cameras, audio and video devices, movie and music software, jewelry, carpets and tobacco."
One reason for cutting these things off is because they are said to be favorites of North Korea's Kim.
A second reason is that Kim likes to give these items as rewards to his cronies.
These 24 items make up 16% of the goods Japan sent to North Korea in 2005.
The list was taken from a 'shopping list' of Fujimoto, a former personal chef to Kim who jumped ship on a shopping trip to Japan.
The chef says Kim keeps his immediate subordinates under control "between heaven and hell" by supplying goods, money, threats and punishments.
Now, Kim will have less to work with. But will it be enough to make a difference?
What do you think?
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