Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed on the importance of close coordination over North Korean issues as Pyongyang continues to make advances in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
During a 45-minute phone conversation following a two-day meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida, Abe also told the US leader that Tokyo is watching closely how Beijing responds to the issues, Japan's news agency (Kyodo) reported.
Abe said he and Trump also "frankly exchanged opinions" over the issue of Syria as well as North Korea, following Thursday’s US military strike on a Syrian military airfield from which a chemical attack was allegedly launched, killing dozens of civilians including children.    Abe conveyed to Trump Japan’s support for "the US resolve to fulfill its responsibility to prevent the proliferation and use of chemical weapons," according to a Japanese official.
Trump responded by saying that the missile attack was intended to ensure chemical weapons will never again be used following the casualties among Syrian civilians, the official said.

On the issue of North Korea, Abe and Trump also "completely agreed" on the importance of solidarity among Japan, the United States and South Korea, according to the prime minister.
On Saturday, Japanese officials said that Tokyo is waiting to see China’s next steps on the North Korean nuclear issue after the US-Chinese summit ended Friday. However, they said Tokyo was doubtful Beijing would intensify pressure on Pyongyang in earnest.They also said Washington should think carefully before taking unilateral action against North Korea, which Trump indicated was a possibility during the summit talks with Xi.

Source: QNA