Japan: It is important that North Korea change its current policy.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. (Source: Reuters)

Japan on January 9 called for continued pressure on North Korea despite South Korea and North Korea holding talks for the first time in more than two years, Kyodo reported.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga welcomed North Korea's announcement that it would send a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, next month, but said it would not change cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea on pressuring Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program.

In a recording for a radio broadcast, Suga said: "It is important that North Korea change its current policy," noting that conditions have not yet been met to resume dialogue with North Korea.

Meanwhile, a senior Japanese government official said inter-Korean talks would only benefit Pyongyang and would not contribute to resolving the threats posed by its nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.

"I highly doubt that holding dialogue solely on participation in the Olympics can lead to any positive developments on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by (North Korea) or (North Korea's) nuclear and missile development programs. North Korea is using this dialogue to buy time," the official stressed.

Earlier in the day, Japanese Foreign Minister Kono spoke by phone with his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland and agreed to maintain pressure on the isolated country.

Next week, Mr. Kono is expected to visit Canada to participate in a ministerial meeting on the North Korean crisis co-chaired by the US and Canada./.