Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told China's top diplomat he would like to work with China to try to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Prime Minister Abe said: To resolve this problem peacefully, we would like to work with China, which has strong influence (over North Korea).

In return, Mr Yang said he hoped all parties play a constructive role in resolving the issue.

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This partnership takes on an especially symbolic importance given the dark history of Sino-Japanese relations, highlighted by the Rape of Nanking in 1937, an atrocity committed by Japan which left hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians dead.

And in 2014 a poll revealed 90 per cent of Chinese people polled expressed a negative view on Japan, while 85 per cent of Japanese people concerned disputes between the two nations could lead to another war.

READ MORE: Will the USA attack North Korea?

Eric Lafforgue/Exclusivepix Medi

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Taking pictures in the DMZ is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you

But North Koreas increasingly erratic actions could force the two rivals to come together in order to bring stability to the region.

Kim Jong-un regularly threatens Japan, seen as one of the countrys biggest enemies, promising several times this year to reduce Tokyo to ashes.

But more worrying in recent weeks has been the emergence of North Korean threats against China, traditionally seen as one of Kims biggest ally.

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Last month North Korean state media accused China of a betrayal following the introduction of coal imports to the country

It said: China should no longer recklessly try to test the limitations of our patience. We have so devotedly helped the Chinese revolution and suffered enormous damage.

READ MORE: Who is on North Korea's side? Who are Kim Jong-un's allies?

North Korea should be very careful

Odd Arne Westad

And one North Korean expert warned Beijing was quickly losing patience with North Korea.

Odd Arne Westad of Harvard University said: North Korea should be very careful. It's clear Beijing now sees further, deeper urgency in getting talks started and these talks have to centre on North Korean nuclear and missile programmes.

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The end point will have to be at least a freeze on North Korean nuclear and missile programs with an aim of its abolition, not necessarily to insist on its immediate disarmament.

Prof Westad said relations had never been as bad as they are today - and they seem to be getting worse very quickly.

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North Korea facing new alliance to stop WW3 as Japan pledges to team up with China - Express.co.uk