Japan has decided to impose sanctions on entities and individuals for supporting North Korea, in the face of a growing missile threat from Pyongyang, the government said on Friday.

Tokyo was targeting four Chinese companies, two Namibian firms, one Chinese individual and one North Korean person for helping Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the Japanese government said.

"North Korea has been repeatedly carrying out provocative acts," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a morning news conference.

"We have decided to work in close coordination with the United States and have taken these new measures reflecting on those taken by Washington," Suga said.

On Tuesday, the US placed sanctions on 16 Chinese and Russian entities linked to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Beijing slammed Washington's move, saying it opposes unilateral sanctions outside the framework of the UN Security Council.