South Korean and Japanese parliamentary leaders on Thursday called for the two countries' closer cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
South Korean National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun and leaders of the Japanese Diet discussed the urgency of resolving North Korea's missile and nuclear issue, according to assembly spokesman Kim Young-soo. The meetings were held hours after the communist nation fired anti-ship cruise missiles into the East Sea.
South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun (right) and Japan's House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima shake hands at their meeting at the House of Representatives in Tokyo on June 8, 2017, in this photo provided by the parliament. (Yonhap)
"It is very regrettable that North Korea again fired a missile today," the spokesman quoted Chung as saying during meetings with Tadamori Oshima, speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, and Chuichi Date, speaker of the country's House of Councillors.
"South Korea and Japan must cooperate very closely to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and for peace in Northeast Asia," he said.
North Korea appeared to have fired a round of short-range surface-to-ship cruise missiles from its east coast early Thursday, according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was Pyongyang's fifth known missile test since the South's liberal Moon Jae-in administration took office May 10.
Oshima expressed agreement with Chung's remarks, saying bilateral cooperation is especially important to resolve the North Korean conundrum. He also stressed the importance of summit talks between Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which have yet to take place.
Date denounced the North's continued provocations and called for firm countermeasures among South Korea, Japan and the US, as well as on the international stage. (Yonhap)
