Japan, US to closely coordinate response to next N. Korea launch

TOKYO, June 1 (KUNA) -- Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed on Thursday their close coordination in preparing for another launch of what North Korea calls a military spy satellite, public broadcaster NHK reported.
During their meeting in Tokyo, Hamada and Autin also agreed to continue discussions on the roles and missions of the Japan-US alliance for the effective operation of counterstrike capabilities that Japan has decided to acquire, it said.
At a joint press conference after their talks, Hamada said the two ministers shared their countries' views on North Korea's launch and other issues, while confirming their close coordination to enable their countries to act promptly and in unison against North Korean provocations.
Hamada condemned North Korea's launch of a suspected ballistic missile on the previous day, stressing the need to strengthen bilateral ties and trilateral coordination with South Korea as the North has announced it will carry out another launch soon.
"Our armed forces continue to serve side by side to defend Japan, to strengthen peace and deterrence across the region, and to preserve the rules-based international order," Austin told the joint press conference.
"North Korea's dangerous and destabilizing nuclear and missile programs threaten peace and stability in the region," he said.
Austin arrived in Japan earlier in the day before heading to the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore on June 2-4. (end) mk.mt