UK, Japan agree to counter nuclear threats

London, Jan 9: Britain and Japan agreed today to worktogether more closely on countering nuclear threats from North Koreaand Iran.

In a joint statement released after talks between Prime MinisterTony Blair and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the twocountries urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme andcalled on Tehran to stop uranium enrichment work.

''We intend to cooperate more closely to strengthencounter-proliferation efforts, including through enhanced consultationand coordination over North Korea and Iran,'' the statement said.

Britain and Japan expressed grave concern over North Korea'smissile launch and nuclear test last year and urged North Korea tocomply with a UN Security Council resolution that imposed sanctions onPyongyang after its nuclear test.

They urged North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes.

''We also express our deep concern at Iran's failure to take thesteps required by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) boardand the UN Security Council, including a full suspension of all uraniumenrichment-related and reprocessing activities,'' it said.

The statement said Britain supported Japan's bid for permanentmembership of the UN Security Council, a move Japan has been pushingfor to boost its role in global security affairs.

Abe is in London at the start of a five-day tour of Europe,seeking support for the tough line Washington and Tokyo are takingtowards North Korea after its missile and nuclear tests.

Reuters>