Japan, South Korea, US to Discuss North Korean Nukes with Russia, China

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the head of the Japanese delegation, Junichi Ihara, a regional director-general in the Japanese Foreign Ministry, said the sides had “seriously discussed measures concerning North Korea’s nuclear and missile problems” and that they were “seeing eye to eye on most of them.”

Junichi Ihara had arrived in Seoul from Beijing where he discussed the issue with Chinese officials. His colleagues from the US and South Korea, Hwang Joon-kook and Sung Kim, will be flying to Beijing Thursday for talks with Wu Dawei, Chinese Foreign Ministry's special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs.

South Korea, Japan and the United States see Pyongyang’s recent test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile as a worrying sign and a violation of pertinent resolutions by the UN Security Council.

Hwang Joon-kook, South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, said that South Korea, the US and Japan would be working closely on the “uncertain and tense” situation in North Korea, and would hold consultations with China and Russia, Kyodo news agency reported.