Japan’s Kono Appeals for Need to Keep Pressure on N. Korea

February 16, 2018

Munich- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, in a speech on Friday, appealed for the need to continue applying pressure on North Korea to make the reclusive state abandon its nuclear and missile development programs.

Addressing the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Kono warned that the international community should not fall for North Korea's "smile diplomacy" and claimed that Pyongyang with nuclear arms can never be accepted.

If North Korea is accepted as a nuclear nation, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime will collapse, Kono said.

Presenting a photograph showing the scene of goods smuggling on the ocean, Kono explained how North Korea has been escaping U.N. economic sanctions.

Elsewhere in the speech, Kono expressed concern that there are attempts to change the status quo by force in the South and East China Seas, regarding China's aggressive maritime expansion.

Also in Munich on Friday, Kono held phone talks with European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and agreed on the need to increase pressure on North Korea.

Kono and Mogherini confirmed that Japan and the EU have reached an accord in negotiations on a bilateral strategic partnership agreement and that they will accelerate efforts to sign the deal at an early date.

Separately, Kono held talks with Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze. They agreed to aim for an early conclusion of negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty. Jiji Press