Pence promotes Trump's economic plans in Japan

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Pence has used the first stops on his 10-day visit to Asia Pacific to stress the Trump administration's strong commitment to U.S. allies in the face of hostile rhetoric from Pyongyang.

"We appreciate the challenging times in which the people of Japan live with increasing provocations from across the Sea of Japan", said Pence.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters he hopes "there will be no unilateral actions like those we saw recently in Syria and that the USA will follow the line that President Trump repeatedly voiced during the election campaign".

Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an intelligence matter, said the missile was a Scud variant that the US calls a KN-17.

US Vice President Mike Pence doubled down on the US commitment to Asia Pacific with a stern warning for North Korea, which he called the "most unsafe and urgent threat" to the region.

Standing on the deck of the aircraft carrier, Pence said that the White House will continue to work with Japan, China and other allies in the region to put pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

"There's no question North Korea represents the most unsafe and most immediate threat in the Asia-Pacific and President Trump is determined to confront that threat by marshaling unprecedented cooperation with allies in the region and China and the world", Pence said.

"The United States of America will always seek peace but under President Trump, the shield stands guard and the sword stands ready", Pence told 2,500 sailors wearing blue fatigues and Naval baseball caps on a sunny, windy morning aboard the carrier at the U.S. Yokosuka naval base in Tokyo Bay.

The nuclear test is yet to happen, but Pyongyang tested a missile Sunday which ended in failure.

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Mattis struck an even tougher tone on North Korea in an interview with reporters traveling with him to Saudi Arabia.

"We will not rest and will not relent until we obtain the objective of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula".

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the situation was "highly sensitive, complicated and high risk" and all sides should "avoid taking provocative actions".

A Japanese official says a difference in approach remains with the US despite an agreement on a framework for new bilateral economic talks.

Kim said Washington is likely to demand South Korea buy more USA products, but in order to increase exports, the United States would need to create products that South Korean customers would want. He visited South Korea earlier and will head to Indonesia after his stop in Japan. But Pence expressed impatience with the unwillingness of the regime to move toward ridding itself of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

Since entering office, Trump has pressed China to use its political and economic leverage over North Korea.

China has recently shown "tangible indications" that it is cooperating with the U.S.to turn up the pressure on Pyongyang, a senior State Department official said Monday.

Australia's prime minister also urged China to do more, saying Beijing has the "greatest obligation and responsibility" to de-escalate the threat from North Korea. But asked Wednesday if he envisioned direct negotiation between North Korea and the US, Pence replied, "not at this time". Founded in 1846, AP has covered all the major news events of the past 165 years, providing high-quality, informed reporting of everything from wars and elections to championship games and royal weddings.

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