TOKYO: Japanese, US and South Korean high-level officials have shared their strong concerns about North Korea’s improving missile technology highlighted in a series of recent missile launches by the reclusive state.

Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Sung Kim, US special representative for North Korea, and Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, had three-way discussions over the phone on Monday afternoon.

The diplomats agreed that their nations will closely cooperate to denuclearize North Korea completely and to strengthen their deterrence capabilities.

Kim said the United States will keep asking the North for dialogue. The recent arrival of a North Korean freight train in China was also discussed at the talks, according to informed sources.

After the talks, Funakoshi told reporters that he takes the missile launches very seriously.

JIJI Press