Japan and Australia agreed to put more pressure on North Korea to denuclearize through strict enforcement of U.N. regulations on Pyongyang, despite easing tensions over its arms development program.
Defense ministers of Japan and Australia acknowledged the need to strengthen defense ties. This includes increasing joint exercises between their armed forces, amid a rapidly changing security environment in the region.
However, it’s considered too early to relax under relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions imposed after a series of nuclear and ballistic missile tests, given that North Korea has yet to take any concrete action to abandon its weapons program.
The Australian Foreign Minister spoke at a joint press conference following the meeting and said both countries agreed to maintain pressure on North Korea and that they need to see real steps to complete and denuclearize of the Korean Peninsula.
Japanese Defense Minister said Japan agreed to work closely with their Australian counterparts Payne and Christopher Pyne to prevent North Korea from evading the sanctions through illegal ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum products and other goods at sea.
During the Two-Plus-Two talks, they also confirmed to work toward an early conclusion of a visiting forces agreement. This will enable the two countries to conduct joint military drills and disaster relief operations more smoothly.
Japan and Australia began negotiating the agreement in 2014. It would be the first time Tokyo participates in a jet exercise after the Status of Forces Agreement between America and Japan, detailing the legal status of U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan.
Reference: Japan, Australia agree to keep up sanctions pressure on North Korea
