Japan, US agree to strengthen alliance

Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and new US Secretary of State John Kerry have agreed to strengthen the alliance between the two countries. They also agreed to work together to urge North Korea to restrain itself from conducting a third nuclear test. Kishida and Kerry spoke by phone on Sunday night, Japan time, according to (NHK World) website. Kishida said the Japan-US alliance is the foundation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and that Japan wants to step up its relations with the United States. Kerry expressed appreciation for Japan’s role in solving various regional and international problems. The two officials agreed to prepare for the planned visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Washington later this month. They also agreed that it is necessary to warn North Korea that the country will face serious consequences if it takes a provocative action.