Abe calls for 'resolute' action against N. Korea
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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Japan's new prime minister Shinzo Abe called for "resolute" action against North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme as the major powers struggle to decide steps against the isolated regime, officials said on Wednesday.
Mr Abe made his call during telephone talks with United Nations (UN) leader Ban Ki Moon late on Tuesday, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Japan is a key ally of the United States (US), which is battling to persuade China to agree tough UN Security Council action against Pyongyang for what the West sees as its test of banned ballistic missile technology on Dec 12.
North Korea featured strongly alongside the economy and Japan's reconstruction from a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 in Ban's first talks with the new Japanese leader.
