Advertisement

North Korea is a ‘critical and imminent’ threat, Japan says

Click to play video: 'Inside Pyongyang, North Korea as tensions rise with the United States'
Inside Pyongyang, North Korea as tensions rise with the United States
ABOVE: Inside Pyongyang, North Korea as tensions rise with the United States – Oct 22, 2017

CLARK, Philippines – Japan‘s defence minister asserted Monday that North Korea‘s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities have grown to an “unprecedented, critical and imminent” level.

The minister, Itsunori Odonera, said that this rising threat means his country, along with South Korea and the United States, have to collectively take what he called “different responses.”

His comments, made through an interpreter, came at the outset of a meeting in the Philippines with U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korea’s defence minister, Song Young-moo.

Life in North Korea: Food rations, power failures and no free speech

Onodera noted that North Korea has recently launched ballistic missiles that have overflown Japanese territory and said it cannot be ruled out that a recent underground nuclear test by North Korea was a hydrogen bomb.

Story continues below advertisement
WATCH: North Korea says Donald Trump inciting ‘reckless campaign’ against regime
Click to play video: 'North Korea says Donald Trump inciting ‘reckless campaign’ against regime'
North Korea says Donald Trump inciting ‘reckless campaign’ against regime

“The country has steadfastly improved it nuclear and missiles capability,” said Onodera. He added: “The threat posed by North Korea has grown to the unprecedented, critical and imminent level.”

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Therefore, we have to take calibrated and different responses to meet that level of threat,” he said, without elaborating on what “different” responses Japan favours.

Mattis was somewhat more reserved in his remarks, although he did slam Pyongyang for defying U.N. Security Council resolutions against its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. But the U.S. defence secretary did not mention any potential military action. Mattis instead emphasized a unified U.S.-Japan-South Korea position in pressuring the North to give up its nuclear program.

“North Korea’s provocations threaten regional and global security,” he said.

WATCH: Trump’s ‘prepared for anything’ vow on North Korea shines light on weaponization of outer space

Click to play video: 'Trump’s ‘prepared for anything’ vow on North Korea shines light on weaponization of outer space'
Trump’s ‘prepared for anything’ vow on North Korea shines light on weaponization of outer space

South Korea’s defence minister, Song, said that North Korea’s behaviour is “becoming worse and worse.”

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: North Korea pens open letter warning world leaders keep ‘sharp vigilance’ of Trump

Earlier Monday, in brief remarks to reporters, Song was asked about the risk of war against North Korea. He said defence ministers bring a special perspective to the problem.

“We understand the very weight of engaging in a war,” he said through a translator. “As such, we will make all the efforts necessary to resolve the issue in as economic and diplomatic way as possible.”

He added that if the South were to be attacked, “we’ll have to take firm actions.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices