US, Japan to step up heat on North Korea

Tokyo, Oct 17: Asserting that both the countries need to be prepared for the worst if diplomacy failed, US and Japanese diplomats have agreed to maximize pressure on North Korea to resolve tensions over its nuclear programme.

US Undersecretary of State John Sullivan, after meeting his Japanese counterpart, Shinsuke Sugiyama, said today the focus at the State Department is on diplomacy to solve the problem.

"We must, however, with our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere, be prepared for the worst" should diplomacy fail.

Sugiyama reiterated Japan's support for President Donald Trump's policy of keeping all options, but stressed the need for a diplomatic solution via cooperation with China and Russia.

The two diplomats will join their South Korean counterpart in Seoul for further talks tomorrow on North Korea.

President Donald Trump is strengthening his ability to resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis by threatening to abandon the nuclear deal with Iran, said US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley earlier.

PTI