TOKYO (AP) -- Japan 's prime minister says the world should impose tough new sanctions against North Korea if it goes ahead with plans for a nuclear test.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a television talk show Tuesday that Japan and the international community will need to impose ``quite severe measures'' against North Korea if it conducts the test. He said North Korea would not gain anything from such a provocation.

Last week, North Korea announced plans for a nuclear test after the United Nations Security Council punished it for firing a long-range rocket in December. The Security Council said the rocket violated a ban on nuclear and missile activity and ordered the regime to refrain from a nuclear test. North Korea says it launched a satellite as part of a peaceful space program.