Abe, Guterres Reaffirm Cooperation on N. Korea

Tokyo, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres agreed Wednesday to work together for the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea. During talks in Tokyo, they reaffirmed that such implementation is necessary to make the communist state take concrete action toward its denuclearization. At a joint press conference after the talks, Abe said he and Guterres once again shared an understanding about the importance of quickly resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago. On efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, Abe said, "I hope the agreement between the U.S. and North Korean leaders will be implemented completely and swiftly." Guterres said he will encourage North Korea to become a legitimate member of the international community through its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. Ahead of Japan's hosting of a Group of 20 summit next year, Guterres said he hopes Japan will play its role as a sincere mediator at a time when the global trade system is facing major confusion. Abe and Guterres also exchanged opinions about climate change and reforms of the Security Council. The two will attend a peace memorial ceremony to be held in the atomic-bombed southwestern Japan city of Nagasaki on Thursday. END