Japan, Mongolia Affirm Cooperation over N. Korea

December 14, 2018

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Mongolian counterpart, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, have agreed on their countries' close cooperation for the early resolution of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago.

At their meeting in Tokyo on Thursday, Abe and Khurelsukh also confirmed the importance of the full implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea to achieve the denuclearization of the country.

They agreed that Japan and Mongolia will work together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Abe assured Khurelsukh of Japan's support for Mongolia's bid to become a member of the East Asia Summit forum, which currently comprises 18 countries including Japan, China, South Korea, the United States and the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"The horizon of cooperation (between Japan and Mongolia) is now starting to extend broadly," Abe said at a joint press conference after the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Mongolian counterpart, Damdin Tsogtbaatar, held a meeting in Tokyo.

They agreed to deepen Japan-Mongolia cooperation in dealing with issues related to North Korea.

The meeting came after Tsogtbaatar held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho earlier this month. Jiji Press