Export violation incident to North Korea

On Feb 26, various media reported a small trading house "Toko Boueki" tried to send magnetic measurement devices to North Korea via Myanmar without obtaining export license by METI.
Police raided this company for investigation.

According to METI, the magnetic measurement devices are regulated under "Catch-all" control.
This implies this machine is not license required under Export Trade Control Order appendix category 1 - 15, but falling under category 16. The technical specification does not trigger export license, but the suspected use to Weapon of Massive Destruction (WMD) is the reason of export license requirement.

In addition, based on Catch-all control, METI have already known this attempt, and once informed to this trading house to apply license. However, the company disregarded this "inform" by METI and tried to export illegally. Certainly, this case is with evil intention and will be penalized based on Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (FEFTL).

Coincidentally, as of today Feb 27, the amendment of FEFTL is officially approved by Cabinet, to include more severe penalty against the violation of export control regulation.

Below Japan Times article provide details of the news.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090227a2.html