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| ▲ NHK Galmoori reports the remarks of US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln at the press conference of the US and Japan foreign affairs and defense ministers. | |
| Ⓒ NHK |
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The U.S. Secretary of State and Defense, who visited Japan, emphasized cooperation in policy toward North Korea between the United States and Korea.
According to Japan’s NHK, on the 16th, Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, who made their first trip to Korea and Japan after the inauguration of the US administration on the 16th, prevented Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The two ministers and Prime Minister Suga agreed to continue cooperation between the United States and Japan on the situation in North Korea, and to cooperate to resolve the issue of abduction of Japanese citizens as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Suga said, “Amid the increasing security environment, the importance of the US-Japan alliance has grown more and more,” he said. “I sincerely welcome the Biden administration’s foreign policy that emphasizes relations with alliances and partners.
Earlier, at an official conference held after the meeting of the US-Japan Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers (2+2), Minister Blincoln said, “The very important thing in the future policy toward North Korea is the cooperation between the three countries.” There is only one,” he emphasized.
“We are reviewing all options for our new strategy,” he said. “We are looking closely with our alliances and partners to see if there are any additional pressures that will work, whether there will be reasonable diplomatic measures,” he said.
“We are discussing with think tanks, experts, and former officials about how to alleviate tensions with North Korea,” he added. “I tried to contact the North Korean side since mid-February, but I did not receive a response.”
Blincoln, Kim Yeo-jung’s warning is immediately damaged
Minister Blincoln avoided direct comment on the warning discourse that North Korea’s Labor Vice President Kim Yeo-jeong aimed at the Biden administration, saying, “It would be better not to make something to sleep.” And the opinions of our partners,” he said.
“The reason we came here is to listen to the opinions of our allies and discuss how to jointly respond to the North Korean threat.”
In addition, he said, “I would like to work hard to solve the problem of abduction of Japanese citizens, including the denuclearization of North Korea and the prevention of human rights abuses.”
After completing their visit to Japan, Ministers Blincoln and Austin will visit Seoul on the 17th to hold a meeting with Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong and Defense Minister Seo-wook.