Abe, Moon remain ready to raise pressure on N. Korea

August 26, 2017

TOKYO- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during telephone talks on Friday reaffirmed their countries' readiness to put more pressure on North Korea, which continues nuclear and missile development.

They shared the view that Japan and South Korea should foster their partnership in a forward-looking manner despite the issue of Koreans who were forced to work for Japanese companies during the wartime period.

Abe stressed that North Korea's provocative remarks and acts are totally unacceptable, referring to its recent threat to fire ballistic missiles over western Japan into waters near the US Pacific territory of Guam, according to a Japanese government briefing.

The Japanese leader said Japan and South Korea, as well as the two countries plus the United States, should unite in handling the North Korean threat. In reply, Moon underscored the need to prepare for contingencies.

The Abe-Moon talks were the first since the South Korean president at a press conference last week clarified his view that the forced Korean laborers still retain the personal right to claim for compensation.

During the 30-minute phone talks, Abe reiterated Japan's position that the forced labor issue was completely and ultimately resolved by a 1965 bilateral accord, according to the Japanese briefing. Jiji Press