Ministers from 20 nations agree to keep pressuring N. Korea

January 17, 2018

Vancouver, Canada- Foreign ministers from Japan, the United States, South Korea, Canada and 16 other countries agreed on Tuesday to keep increasing pressure on North Korea until it changes course toward denuclearizing itself.

At their meeting in Vancouver, the ministers, meanwhile, welcomed progress in the inter-Korean dialogue ahead of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea next month.

Wrapping up the talks they co-hosted, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said that "North Korea will never be accepted as a nuclear power."

Tillerson told a press conference after the meeting that the ministers discussed increasing pressure on North Korea by implementing sanctions more effectively and reached a consensus that China and Russia should fully abide by sanctions resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council.

The participants also reaffirmed the importance of blocking North Korean smuggling on the seas, according to him.

At the outset of the gathering in the western Canada city, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said it is necessary to "uphold the maximum pressure campaign" against the reclusive Asian nation.

"It is not the time to ease pressure or to reward North Korea," he stressed, referring to Pyongyang's acceptance of Seoul's request for talks on the North's participation in the Olympics. Kono also told his counterparts at the conference that "we should not be naive about their intent, nor should we be blinded by North Korea's charm offensive."

In his opening remarks, Tillerson said, "We must increase the cost of the (Kim Jong Un) regime's behavior to the point that North Korea comes to the table for credible negotiations."

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in a speech that her country "will continue to work closely with the International community to force a change of course on North Korea."

But Kan also said Seoul hopes its direct dialogue with Pyongyang will continue and produce further fruit after the Pyeongchang Games. Jiji Press