Warning of export violation to Nakano Corp.

As reported on this Blog on June 16, vacuum pomp which was manufactured by Japanese manufacturer was found in North Korea to be used in their nuclear facility.

According to the news report, the vacuum pomp was not likely to be falling into "List control" of Japanese export control law, which is classified with technical specification. Instead, METI try to accuse with "Catch-all" control violation, which impose export license of all products to be used for WMD.
However, in order to judge as guilty in this Catch-all control, it is required to prove the shipper have clear written evidence which shows the product will be used for WMD purpose "objectively". METI call this as "objective condition".
Nakano Corp clearly had recognition their exported products to Taiwan would be re-exported to North Korea, however they didn't have clear written evidence from Taiwan impotter for that.

Therefore, METI impose only warning to Nakano Corp, made public in METI web site on Aug 08, 2008, and didn't impose penalty such as export suspension. In 2007, Yamaha and Mitutoyo were imposed the suspension of export for certain period as penalty.

Considering the Nakano Corp's exported goods lead to threat to national security, the warning only this time can be considered as light penalty, especially compared with Yamaha and Mitutoyo' cases.


(Source: http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/kanri/topics/keikoku/080808press.pdf)