As leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia invested their time and effort into cultivating ties on this side of the globe, over in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe consolidated their alliance and friendship: The two are with one another on keeping North Korean sanctions, but ways apart on bilateral trade terms.
Arirang News Kan Hyeong-woo has this report.
President Trump and Prime Minister Abe have once again vowed to maintain sanctions pressure on North Korea to achieve the regime's denuclearization... according to U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty.
"Again, Mr. Prime Minister, you're my friend and I very much appreciate the visit and I think we'll accomplish a lot. We'll also be talking about, by the way, North Korea where we're working together very closely with others and I think it's going pretty well. Thank you all very much."
"...the bond between Japan and the United States under our alliance will remain unwavering and also we will demonstrate our strong commitment to addressing various challenges that we see in the international community."
According to Reuters,... citing a senior Japanse government official,... the two leaders have agreed on the need for close coordination with each other and South Korea... to achieve the fully verified denuclearization of Pyeongyang.
Japan's Kyodo News Agency reports... that Trump pledged to support Tokyo in arranging a first summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Japanese leader Abe,... as part of efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees held captive by the North.
After discussing a number of issues such as establishing new trade relations, restricting Iranian oil imports and bolstering military ties,... the two leaders wrapped up the summit by playing a round of golf on Saturday near Washington D.C.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News