Jan 19 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, have agreed that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is indispensable for safety in Asia.
The 2 leaders spoke to reporters after a meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo on Thursday.
They agreed that despite recent progress in inter-Korean dialogue, the North's continued nuclear and missile development means that the situation is worsening.
Abe and Turnbull agreed that safety in Asia cannot be achieved without a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. They confirmed their policy to maximize pressure by all available means to make North Korea change its policy.
The 2 leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation to achieve Abe's "free and open Indo-Pacific strategy", and confirmed their close cooperation with the US and India.
Abe and Turnbull agreed on widening defense cooperation between the 2 countries. This will include their first joint drill, to be held in Japan between Japan's Air Self Defense Force and the Australian military.
They also vowed to move swiftly to conclude a new pact aimed at facilitating joint operations and drills by Japan's Self Defense Forces and the Australian military.
Source: ANNnewsCH
