News In Brief

Japan to reduce contacts with N. Korean officials

Japan Monday restricted contacts with North Korea in response to Burma's blaming Pyongyang for the Oct. 9 Rangoon bomb blast, which killed four South Korean Cabinet ministers. Chief Japanese Cabinet Secretary Masaharu Gotoda said in a statement the government had decided to impose restrictions ''with a view to demonstrating its firm position that such acts of terrorism should never be tolerated in international society.''