Abe calls for creating environment forcing North Korea to seek talks

September 20, 2017

NEW YORK- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored the importance of creating an environment that forces North Korea to seek talks, during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Abe said it is necessary to step up pressure on North Korea now, following the reclusive country's sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3 in violation of related UN Security Council resolutions, according to Japanese officials.

He also said, considering its past behavior, Pyongyang needs to display a sincere will and action toward its denuclearization if it hopes to have substantial talks with concerned parties.

In response to Abe's call for support for and cooperation with Japan over the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago, Guterres said the kidnapping is unacceptable as the victims' basic human rights were trampled on.

Regarding reforms on the world body, the Japanese leader stressed that it is necessary to increase both the numbers of permanent and non-permanent members of its Security Council.

Abe said he expects the UN chief to take a position that it is essential to reform the Security Council promptly. Guterres expressed his readiness to carry out overall UN reforms. Jiji Press