North Korea Successfully Tested Long-Range Missile, US Holds Meeting With South Korea And Japan

Illustration of North Korea's new cruise missile test. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The main nuclear envoys from Japan, the United States and South Korea held talks in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss how to rein in North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, a day after Pyongyang said it was testing a new long-range missile.

North Korea's state media announced Monday that it had successfully test-fired a new cruise missile, which analysts say could be a nuclear-capable weapon.

"The latest developments in the DPRK are a reminder of the importance of the three countries' close communication and cooperation", Sung Kim, the US special envoy for North Korea, said in his opening remarks, using the initials of the official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), cited from Reuters, Tuesday, September 14.

The three countries have discussed ways to break the stalemate with North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, which has drawn international sanctions.

In a meeting with his Japanese colleagues Takehiro Funakoshi and South Korean Noh Kyu-duk, Kim said Washington remained open to diplomacy to deal with the North Korean issue.

Meanwhile, the White House said it was still ready to engage with Pyongyang despite its cruise missile tests over the weekend. However, the administration of US President Joe Biden has shown no willingness to relax sanctions.

"Our position has not changed when it comes to North Korea, we remain ready to engage", deputy chief press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

Separately, Pyongyang said it saw no sign of a change in policy from the United States, citing issues such as sanctions and joint military exercises with South Korea, which it said were preparations for an attack.

As Washington is a close military and economic ally of Japan and South Korea, relations between Asian neighbors are often strained over issues including sovereignty disputes, Japan's 1910-45 occupation of the Korean peninsula, and their wartime history.