Japan calls for action amid WW3 fears as North Korea launches another missile – Express.co.uk

Shinichi Iida, Minister for public diplomacy at the Japanese Embassy, called for an end to dialogue for dialogue's sake after the missile entered Japanese waters.

He said country was very concerned by the provocation, as the missile flew about 280 miles (450km) before landing in the Japanese exclusive economic zone, within the Sea of Japan.

HetoldSky News: We are very much concerned with yet another provocation by North Korea.

North Korea has conducted nuclear tests twice and has launched more than 30 ballistic missiles in just over a year.

It is obviously causing a very serious threat, not only to the region but also to the entire world.

GETTY SKY

In that sense, it is quite significant that the G7 Summit that was held in Italy a couple of days ago, leaders agreed on the fact that North Korea is a first priority issue for international security.

Mr Iida said China needed to assert its influence on the rogue nation, under the control over Kim Jong-un, to halt the tests and to abolish its nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

He said: Prime Minister Shinz Abe and President Donald Trump had a very good meeting and they agreed that Japan-US cooperation, and also with South Korea, is critically important.

China also agreed it should play a larger role in light of the fact that 90per centof North Koreas trade is with China.

I think it is quite important to recognise that after 22 years of endeavour to make the North Koreans halt their nuclear and ballistic missile programme, it simply hasnt worked out.

Under the current circumstances, dialogue for dialogue sake doesnt carry much meaning

Shinichi Iida

Under the current circumstances, dialogue for dialogue sake doesnt carry much meaning.

I think it is important to keep up the pressure on North Korea, that is a very important aspect that everybody should understand.

Mr Iida added for the UNs sanctions against the hermit state to have its intended effect, North Koreas foreign currency revenues need to be cut.

He said: The Untied Nations Security Council has been passing very strong resolutions, again and again, to demand North Korea to abolish its nuclear programme and ballistic missile systems and it has been sanctioning North Korea.

And the most important element for the economic sanctions authorised by the Security Council towork,is to cut the foreign currency revenues of North Korea.

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The ground-to-ground medium-to-long range ballistic missile

China can play a very critical role in convincing, in asserting its influence over North Korea and convince it over the need to immediately abandon its nuclear programme and abolish its ballistic missile programme.

Jong-uns launched the Scud missile from the eastern region of Wonsan, after a series of test-launches of missiles in recent weeks.

The launch was immediately reported to South Korea's president Moon Jae-in, who called a meeting of the National Security Council at 7.30am local time (10.30pm GMT), the country's office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Yoshihide Suga, Japans chief cabinet secretary, said: This ballistic missile launch by North Korea is highly problematic from the perspective of the safety of shipping and air traffic and is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"Japan absolutely cannot tolerate North Korea's repeated provocative actions. We have strongly protested to North Korea and condemn its actions in the strongest terms.

No damage to planes or ships has been detected.

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Japan calls for action amid WW3 fears as North Korea launches another missile - Express.co.uk