The Foreign and Defense Chiefs of Japan and the United States have agreed to continue exerting pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and missile programs. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Washington yesterday. It was the first “2-plus-2” security meeting between the two countries since the launch of US President Donald Trump’s administration. After the talks, the ministers jointly released a statement.
They called on the international community to comprehensively and thoroughly implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions against North Korea, including the one adopted earlier this month. They said North Korea’s development of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities has entered a new phase and pose an increasing threat to regional and international peace and stability.
Pyongyang said last week that it is considering a plan to fire ballistic missiles into waters off the US territory of Guam in the Pacific
