GERMANY- The leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed Thursday to cooperate closely to have the UN Security Council adopt a new sanctions resolution on North Korea over the reclusive state's missile development. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in also confirmed that their countries will increase pressure on North Korea following Pyongyang's claim earlier this week of a successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The three met in Hamburg before a two-day summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies in the German city from Friday.

The three-way meeting, the first of its kind since Trump and Moon took office, was held over dinner for about 75 minutes.

It was held at the suggestion of Trump and discussions centered on issues related to North Korea.

Also present at the meeting were Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of the Japanese government's National Security Council, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

Abe, Trump and Moon agreed to urge China, which has influence over North Korea, to play a greater role in efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

They also agreed to use the occasion of the G-20 summit to call on member countries like China and Russia to join the efforts to send a strong message against North Korea.

In response to the US government's recent decision to impose sanctions on Chinese entities allegedly involved in illegal financial transactions with North Korea, Abe and Moon indicated their countries' willingness to consider strengthening their own sanctions as well.

Stressing that holding a dialogue for dialogue's sake would be meaningless, Abe said North Korea must show its earnest resolve and concrete action if it wants to have a dialogue.

In making this remark, Abe apparently had in mind a speech delivered by Moon in Berlin on Thursday in which he indicated his readiness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Jiji Press)