Japan, India Confirm Cooperation over N. Korean Missiles

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)--Japan and India confirmed on Wednesday the importance of international cooperation over a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea. At their meeting in Tokyo, deputy-minister-level foreign affairs and defense officials of the two countries shared their resolve of not tolerating any provocative action by Pyongyang. They agreed that the international community, including China, should work together to press North Korea to fulfill its obligations under past U.N. Security Council resolutions against the reclusive country. On Monday, North Korea fired four ballistic missiles, which fell into Sea of Japan waters 300-350 kilometers off the Oga Peninsula in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Akita, with three of them landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone. On the situation in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the officials agreed on the importance of the rule of law, apparently keeping in mind China's maritime assertiveness. They also exchanged opinions on Japan's possible export of the US-2 amphibious rescue aircraft to India as a way to strengthen the two countries' security cooperation. The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba and Ro Manabe, vice defense minister for international affairs, from Japan, and Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Secretary Mohan Kumar from India. END