LOC19:29
16:29 GMT
TOKYO, March 20 (KUNA) -- Japan and Russia agreed Monday to closely cooperate in North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, as foreign and defense ministers from the two countries met in Tokyo.
In the so-called two-plus-two security meeting, the four ministers confirmed that the two countries will urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and to abide by UN resolutions demanding to halt its nuclear and missile development.
The meeting, after a three-year hiatus, was attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The two-plus-two talks had not been held since November 2013, due to Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. "The two-plus-two talks that bring together four ministers not only contribute to confidence building but to the stability of regional peace and stability," Kishida told a joint press conference after the meeting.
"Based on the talks today, we hope to firmly work toward developing Japan-Russian cooperation in various areas," Kishida noted. "We held a candid talk on the missile launches by the North and agreed to call on North Korea to refrain from further provocations and adhere to UN Security Council resolutions," Kishida said.
"I believe this two-plus-two format will be instrumental in helping a Russia-Japan relationship take on a new nature and making it more friendly," Lavrov told a joint conference.
Moreover, Lavrov also expressed opposition to the deployment of a US missile defense system, known as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, in South Korea, calling it a threat to regional security. "The US global ballistic missile defense poses a deep risk to the security of the region," he said.
Kishida and Lavrov met prior to the two-plus-two meeting, in which they confirmed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Russia in late April for talks with President Vladimir Putin, according to Kishida.
The two foreign ministers also agreed to narrow differences in the territorial dispute that has prevented the two nations from concluding a peace treaty to formally end WWII and discouraged investment in Russia by Japan. (end)
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