Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that all countries need to unite to enforce sanctions and apply pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. “Now is not the time for dialogue. Now is the time to apply pressure,” Abe told a gathering of investors…
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that all countries need to unite to enforce sanctions and apply pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
“Now is not the time for dialogue. Now is the time to apply pressure,” Abe told a gathering of investors at the New York Stock Exchange, remarks he later reiterated in an address to the annual United Nations General Assembly.
On Tuesday, U. S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea in his speech to the U. N. that the United States would “totally destroy” the country if threatened.
In contrast, Japan’s Asian rival China, and Russia, have called repeatedly for a return to international diplomacy and talks with North Korea to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang’s weapons programs.
“We can’t be satisfied that the U. N. has approved new sanctions against North Korea,” Abe said. “What’s crucial now is to put sanctions into effect without lapses and that requires close cooperation with China and Russia.”
In his U. N. speech, Abe said North Korean nuclear weapons either already were, or were on the verge of becoming, hydrogen bombs, presenting an unprecedented threat.
