Japan, South Korea must cooperate to counter North Korea, says Yoshihide Suga

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that he stressed importance of cooperation with Seoul, during a telephonic conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, to counter any threat from Pyongyang. Suga told a press conference that leers talked about several issues including ongoing coronavirus pandemic and strained bilateral ties.

“I told President Moon that we cant leave our current very difficult relations where y are w,” Suga said after telephone call.

Japan-South Korea relations have deteriorated sharply over war-time history, especially on issue of Korean labourers who were forced to work in Japanese during colonial rule. Suga said that he would “continue to firmly seek appropriate action from South Korea”. two leers talked for first time after Suga’s inauguration as Japan’s new Prime Minister.

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Talks with UN chief

Japanese PM also held a telephonic conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 24 and exchanged ir views on ways to dress COVID-19. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suga asked for understanding and cooperation towards early resolution of rth Korean abductions issue.

ministry said in a statement that UN chief extended his full support and also emphasised importance of promoting denuclearisation. According to ministry, both sides agreed that y would cooperate in a wide range of areas, including peacebuilding, development and climate change.

“Secretary-General Guterres reiterated his appreciation to international contributions me by Japan to dress COVID-19. Moreover, y agreed to collaborate towards increasing number of Japanese senior staff members working in UN,” statement re.

Meanwhile, Japan, India, Australia and United States are reportedly planning to hold a meeting of ir foreign ministers in Tokyo in early October. It will be first cabinet-level meeting in Japan since March after coronavirus outbreak. Japanese foreign affairs chief Toshimitsu Motegi, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, and Australian foreign minister Marise Payne will hold QU security dialogue.

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(Im: AP)