LOC12:19
09:19 GMT
TOKYO, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed on Wednesday to further increase pressure on North Korea and to push for tougher sanctions by the UN Security Council.
In their 20-minute telephone conversation, Abe said, "The missile launch yesterday was unprecedented, grave and serious threat. This showed that North Korea is not ready to sit for dialogue, and it is time to increase pressure on North Korea," according to the Japanese government.
Abe also told Moon that Japan hopes to coordinate with South Korea as well as with the US at UN Security Council meetings and other occasions.
In response, Moon expressed deep sympathy with concerns Japanese people are having over North Korea's provocation.
"The adoption of a UN Security Council's presidential statement over the North's missile launch was the result of close coordination among Japan, South Korea and the US," Moon was quoted as telling Abe.
The two leaders shared the view that they will push for more concrete and effective UN Security Council sanctions on the North in cooperation with the US.
Their talks came one day after North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which traveled about 2,700 km after crossing over the northern Japan before falling into the Pacific Ocean.
Earlier in the day, North Korea said the launch was a "meaningful prelude" to containing the US Pacific territory of Guam, about 3,000 km southeast of North Korea. (end)
mk.gta