Abe warns of “specific action” to deter N. Korea
May 29, 2017
Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday his country will take "specific action" with the United States to deter North Korea, in the wake of the reclusive state's successive missile launches. "We can never tolerate an act of provocation committed in defiance of repeated warnings from the international community," Abe told reporters, referring to North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile on Monday morning.
"As we agreed at the Group of Seven summit, the North Korean issue is the international community's top priority," Abe said.
The G-7 leaders, at their two-day meeting in Taormina, Italy, through Saturday, condemned Pyongyang's recent ballistic missile tests.
Abe also said his government will stay on high alert in order to ensure the full safety of the Japanese people.
Speaking at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, Abe said, "Japan will cooperate with the United States and South Korea to impose additional sanctions."
According to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the missile, launched from Wonsan, eastern North Korea, around 5:40 a.m., is believed to have fallen into waters in Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan.
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told reporters that the missile was thought to be a Scud type.
"The missile was not launched on a lofted or other special trajectory," Inada said, explaining that its altitude was about 100 kilometers.
The Japanese government filed a strong protest to North Korea through diplomatic channels over the latest missile launch.
At a meeting of the government's National Security Council (NSC) at the prime minister's office on Monday morning, Abe ordered the thorough collection and analysis of information about the missile as well as detailed checks on the safety of aircraft and ships.
In phone talks on Monday morning, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agreed that their countries will take specific action to enhance defense capabilities.
They also confirmed plans to encourage China and Russia more strongly to play roles in tackling the North Korean situation.
Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of the NSC, will meet with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi in Tokyo on Monday afternoon to discuss responses to Pyongyang's missile launches.
Kishida told reporters, "With North Korea continuing its acts of provocation, it is now necessary to increase pressure, rather than holding dialogue."
"China's role is crucial," Kishida added. (Jiji Press)
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