NATO chief Stoltenberg calls on N. Korea to stop missile, nuclear prog.

BRUSSELS, July 6 (KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Thursday North Korea's new missile test conducted last Tuesday, saying "all of these nuclear and missile tests are a clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions and a threat to international peace and security.
"Our position on North Korea is very clear. North Korea must comply with its international obligations. Stop all activities related to its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. Abandon all existing weapons of mass destruction programmes once and for all. And engage in real dialogue with the international community," he told reporters after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at NATO headquarters.
Stoltenberg praised Japan's contributions to stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan, as well as its help to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia.
On his part, Abe told reporters "the security environment surrounding the international community has become more challenging such as the nuclear and missile development by North Korea as well as the situation in East and South China seas.
"In this context we must make the collaboration between Japan the US and Europe more rock solid through further enhancing Japan-NATO cooperation," he added. (end) nk.hb