A report on Monday in New York said that Foreign ministers for the U.S., Japan and South Korea met in New York late on Sunday.
It noted that the meeting came ahead of UN meetings, to discuss stepped-up measures against North Korea and expand collaboration with one another after Pyongyang’s fifth and largest nuclear test.
The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and their South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, was the first since the latest nuclear test.
It said that the tougher measures would be one of the main issues to be discussed by world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
The ministers said in a joint statement, that North Korea’s disregard for multiple UN resolutions prohibiting its missile and nuclear programs called for even stronger international pressure.
North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year under leader Kim Un.
The statement said further that they discussed the important work currently taking place in the Security Council to further sanction North Korea.
The ministers’ also 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.
“They reaffirmed that they remain open to credible and authentic talks aimed at full and verifiable denuclearization of the DPRK.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has said it is willing to negotiate with the North if the country commits to denuclearisation, which Pyongyang has refused to do.
Washington has pressed Beijing, which is Pyongyang’s most important diplomatic backer and trading partner, to do more to rein in North Korea.
China has expressed anger with North Korea for its largest nuclear test to date, but has not said directly whether it will support tougher sanctions.
It has said it believes sanctions are not the ultimate answer and called for a return to talks. (Reuters/NAN)
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