LOC11:26
08:26 GMT
TOKYO, Aug 31 (KUNA) -- Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis agreed on Thursday to further strengthen pressure on North Korea in a visible manner following its fresh ballistic missile launch earlier this week.
"The pressure means close coordination such as joint military drills, It is important that Japan and the US stand united in dealing with the North Korean issues," Onodera told reporters after his telephone conversation with Mattis.
Onodera also said that he has sought support for Japan's plan to deploy the US Aegis Ashore missile-defense system on its soil.
Their talks came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Tuesday that flew over Japan before falling into the Pacific Ocean. On Wednesday, 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)
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