"In order to strengthen the way we deal with the North Korean issue, we will convey our view and conduct policy consultation to make sure that we are on the same page", Japanese chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday.
"We appreciate the challenging times in which the people of Japan live with increasing provocations from across the Sea of Japan", he said. During a visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea on Monday, he said that "the era of strategic patience is over", while also saying the USA seeks security "through peaceable means". North Korea's nuclear and missile development dominated the agenda on his first stop in South Korea.
A senior North Korean official then accused the United States of bringing the countries to the brink of thermonuclear war.
During his visit to South Korea, at the outset of his 10-day trip to Asia, Pence's attention mostly was directed at the North Korean situation.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a new appeal Tuesday for calm on the Korean Peninsula.
The official briefed reporters on customary condition of anonymity after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo to launch the U.S. -Japan Economic Dialogue.
"We have to be honest where our trade relationship is falling short", he said at a meeting with business leaders in Seoul on Tuesday.
Abe said that "we need to apply pressure on North Korea so they seriously respond to a dialogue" with the worldwide community.
May seeks British election June 8
However before the election gets approval, it must be passed through the House of Commons with at least two thirds of MPs agreeing with the notion.
North Korea could react to a potential U.S. strike by targeting South Korea or Japan, and officials in both countries have been ill at ease with the more bellicose language deployed by President Donald Trump's administration.
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which was signed by 12 Pacific Rim countries, including Japan and Australia, a year ago.
The two are set to launch a high-level bilateral economic dialogue, which will serve as a forum for the two countries to discuss a range of topics from economic policy, trade and investment rules to cooperation on energy and infrastructure, Kyodo News agency reported.
Advocates for the TPP, negotiated by former President Barack Obama and supported by Abe, said it would have opened markets for American exports.
Both sides said they do not expect the talks in Tokyo this week to delve into sector-by-sector talks on trade. The issue was not expected to be raised in talks on Tuesday. With no U.S. Trade Representative yet in office and other key negotiator positions still unfilled, such nitty-gritty discussions will have to come later.
The loss of USA participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership was a blow to Japan following strenuous negotiations, especially over opening its long-protected farm sector to more imports, especially of dairy and meat products.
Pence developed ties with Japanese business and political leaders as governor of IN, a state that is home to Subaru 7270.T , Honda 7267.T and Toyota 7203.T plants, and about 260 Japanese companies employing about 60,000 residents.
In Tokyo, there is still hope that the core of the agreement, thrashed out between the United States and Japan and meant to counterbalance China's regional economic power, can be salvaged in some form.
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