Japan Urges S.korea To Implement N.korea Sanctions
Japan is urging South Korea to maintain pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs by ensuring that sanctions against the North continue to be enforced.
On Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Tomita Koji had his first meeting with Lee In-young, who assumed the post of South Korea's unification minister in July.
South Korea is keen to improve relations with the North.
Lee said his country should do all it can to improve ties with the North and promote inter-Korean barter exchanges, which do not conflict with the sanctions regime.
He asked Japan to support South Korean efforts in a spirit of generosity.
Tomita said Japan and South Korea both have the aim of achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He went on to stress the importance of continuing to implement UN Security Council resolutions aimed at achieving the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
Tomita also referred to the regret Prime Minister Abe Shinzo expressed for failing to resolve issues surrounding the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea when he recently announced his intention to resign.
The ambassador also stressed Tokyo's continued desire for South Korean cooperation on the matter, which he said was a very important one for Japan.
