Japan says U.S. sanctions on ICC chief "incompatible" with its position

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday U.S. sanctions imposed on Tomoko Akane, the Japanese judge who heads the International Criminal Court, are "incompatible with Japan's position," while dismissing criticism that Tokyo's response to the issue has been weak.

Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo that Japan takes the sanctions "very seriously" and has been "consistently supporting" the ICC, a week after Washington announced the measure on Akane, the first Japanese national to head the ICC, in its latest effort to dismantle The Hague-based judicial body.