JAPAN: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo to discuss how to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test
Record ID:
464836
JAPAN: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo to discuss how to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test
- Title: JAPAN: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo to discuss how to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test
- Date: 3rd June 2009
- Summary: KADENA JAPAN, (JUNE 2, 2009) (REUTERS) KADENA U.S. AIRFORCE BASE AND TARMAC TWO F22A RAPTORS ON STAND-BY E-3 SENTRY AWACS ON RUNWAY E-3 TAKING OFF KC-135 FUELING PLANE TAKING OFF
- Embargoed: 18th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA7T7YRJK5GO3KUYL3NPS10J1I1
- Story Text: The United States and Japan agreed on Tuesday (June 2) they can not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea, saying they are deeply concerned about recent "destabilizing" actions by the isolated communist state.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg visited Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo on Tuesday as they discussed how to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test last week.
North Korea raised tension in the region after conducting a nuclear test last week, which put it closer to having a working atomic bomb, and test-firing a barrage of short-range missiles.
South Korean media reported on Monday (June 1) that Pyongyang could test-fire this month a long-range missile designed to strike U.S. territory.
"If North Korea were to launch another missile, it is clearly a violation against the U.N. resolution. It is important for the members of the international community to stand on common ground and take firm actions against North Korea," Hirofumi Nakasone, Japanese Foreign Minister, told a group of reporters.
Steinberg said relevant countries have been holding productive discussions on what steps they can take at the United Nations Security Council and elsewhere to make clear to Pyongyang that its recent actions are "a bad path to go down".
"I think from my reports from Ambassador Rice in New York, I think that the Chinese are very actively engaged in this discussions. They've had a number of good ideas of their own. I will be working very closely to try to find common ground on that and I think we are going to come up with a good result in New York," said Steinberg after meeting with Aso. "I look forward to my efforts and conversations not only on the steps we will take in adopting a new resolution, but how we'll follow up with that afterwards."
Steinberg is leading a U.S. delegation to Asia this week to consult on how to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test last week.
Meanwhile, surveillance aircraft activity at the U.S. Airforce Kadena Airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa continued on Tuesday (June 2) as North Korea's neighbours waited to see what the reclusive country would do next.
Two F-22A combat planes also known as Raptors and E-3 Sentry AWACS were seen taking off from the airbase days after four of twelve high-tech F22A combat planes were deployed to this island in what the United States called a demonstration of "continued U.S. commitment to fulfill its security responsibilities" in the region.
The U.S. Air Force says the base on the island of Okinawa is the hub of air power in the Pacific and home to the Air Force's largest combat wing.
The U.S. military describes the F-22A fighter planes as "combat aircraft that can avoid enemy detection, cruise at supersonic speeds and is highly maneuverable."
Regional powers are waiting to see what the North might do next after it conducted a nuclear test on Monday (May 25).
South Korea is on alert on the assessment Pyongyang may make provocative moves using conventional weapons at their heavily armed border. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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