US-Japan-South Korea consider measures against North Korea

Japan and the United States on July 29 affirmed the need to increase "the highest possible pressure" on North Korea after the country conducted another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch the night before.

Speaking to reporters, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he and his counterpart Rex Tillerson agreed in a phone call that Pyongyang's actions regarding the missile launch on the night of July 28, which is believed to have fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone, "cannot be forgiven."

Foreign Minister Kishida stated: "We affirm that the two countries and together with South Korea will cooperate closely towards the adoption of a new resolution of the United Nations Security Council, including stricter measures against North Korea" as well as calling on China and Russia to join in resolving this crisis.

Immediately afterwards, Foreign Minister Kishida also had a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha, agreeing to maintain close communication channels.

Earlier, speaking immediately after Pyongyang launched the missile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also criticized North Korea's missile test launch, considering it a "serious and existential threat" to Japan's security, and affirmed that as long as North Korea continues such provocative actions, "we have no choice but to coordinate closely with the US, South Korea and the international community including Russia and China to further increase pressure on Pyongyang."

In a further response, on July 29, South Korean President Moon Jae-in directed the government to immediately open consultations with the United States to review the ballistic missile guidelines, aiming to double the limit on the explosive mass of missiles to 1 ton.

Speaking to reporters, Chief of the Presidential Press Office Yoon Young-chan said that under the president's instructions, Seoul security officials have made an official proposal to Washington on the issue and have received a positive response.

On the same day, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile test. The statement stressed that this was the second intercontinental missile test and was a direct violation by North Korea of ​​United Nations Security Council resolutions.

According to Baotintuc.vn