World News: US, Japan, South Korea ministers discuss tougher measures against North Korea
Foreign ministers for Japan, the USA and South Korea met in Nyc on Sunday, ahead of UN meetings, to discuss -up measures against North Korea and expand cooperation after Pyongyang’s fifth and biggest nuclear test.
The September 9 blast was in defiance of UN sanctions that were stiffened in March. The meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and their South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, was the first since the most recent nuclear test. It’ll be one of the primary issues discussed by world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.
In a joint statement, the ministers said North North’s disregard for multiple UN resolutions prohibiting its missile and nuclear programs called for more powerful international pressure. North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons at an unprecedented speed this year under leader Kim Jong Un.
“They discussed the important work currently taking place in the Security Council to further sanction North Korea and considered other possible measures of their own, in particular ways to further restrict revenue sources for the DPRK’s missile and nuclear programs, including through illicit activities,” the ministers’ statement said.
“They reaffirmed that they remain open to legitimate and credible conversations targeted at total and verifiable denuclearisation of the DPRK,” the statement said, referring to the state’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Usa has said it really is willing to negotiate with the North if the state commits.
Washington has pressed Beijing, which is Pyongyang significant diplomatic backer and trading partner, to do more to rein in North Korea. China has expressed anger with North Korea for its biggest nuclear test but has not said directly whether it’ll support more demanding sanctions. It’s said it considers sanctions called for a return to talks and aren’t the greatest solution.
