Abe, Pence Agree to Cooperate over N. Korea Issues

November 13, 2018

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed on Tuesday their countries' cooperation in resolving North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, and its abductions of Japanese citizens decades ago.

At a meeting held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Abe and Pence also confirmed close bilateral collaboration in order to realize constructive dialogue with China.

They agreed to expand trade and investment in a way to benefit both Japan and the United States through bilateral trade pact talks seen starting in January 2019.

The two sides reaffirmed the need to fully implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea toward realizing the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Abe told a joint press conference after the meeting.

Abe also underscored that he and Pence agreed on close Japan-U.S. cooperation for the early resolution of the abduction issue, which is of the most importance for Japan.

Pence welcomed the decision Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump made earlier this year on the launch of the bilateral trade talks.

Noting that the bilateral trade talks will "begin soon," Pence said that the expected trade pact will "establish terms" on not only goods but also services. Pence stressed that the pact will become "a model" for the Asia-Pacific region.

Abe and Pence announced a joint statement on the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting between Abe and Pence was held to coordinate the two countries' positions ahead of their participation in Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related summits in Singapore and a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Papua New Guinea. Jiji Press