Japan Asserts Need to Implement N. Korea Sanctions

August 3, 2018

Singapore- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Thursday underscored the importance for the international community to fully implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea toward its denuclearization.

"The international community needs to back the U.S.-North Korea process for realizing the denuclearization," Kono said in a meeting with his counterparts from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Kono also asked for the ASEAN nations' support for resolving early the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago.

Apparently referring to China's military base development in the South China Sea, Kono said unilateral moves aimed at changing the status quo and activities to increase tensions are unacceptable.

He expressed hopes for progress on ASEAN-China negotiations on compiling a code of conduct designed to prevent conflicts in the South China Sea.

Kono also sought ASEAN's cooperation for Japan's strategy for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Jiji Press