Japan's Cabinet on Friday approved the imposition of new unilateral sanctions on a number of companies and individuals from China, Namibia and North Korea in a bid to further pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The fresh sanctions by Tokyo, in step with the United States, are apparently aimed at preventing the inflow of funds into Pyongyang, which continues to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities in violation of U.N. resolutions.

Tokyo identified four Chinese companies and two Namibian firms, as well as one Chinese individual and one North Korean individual as new targets for sanctions.

While Beijing is widely considered to have significant influence over Pyongyang, the southern African nation of Namibia has been deepening relations with North Korea in recent years, a source close to the matter said.

"North Korea has been repeatedly carrying out provocative acts...we have decided to work in close coordination with the United States and have taken these new measures reflecting on those taken by the United States on the 22nd (of August)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

On Tuesday, the U.S. administration said it has expanded its North Korea-linked blacklist to encompass 16 mainly Chinese and Russian entities and individuals.

China opposes the imposition of unilateral sanctions by any country outside the framework of the U.N. Security Council, especially those targeting Chinese firms and individuals.

Japan has so far frozen the assets of groups and individuals associated with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development projects, involved in the trade of materials including coal, and those linked to the dispatch of workers to other nations.