Japan tells US 'no one could be optimistic about North Korea'
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Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono said that "no one could be optimistic about North Korea", during a meeting with his US and South Korean counterparts in Bangkok on Nov 17, 2019.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono told his United States and South Korea counterparts on Sunday (Nov 17) that "no one could be optimistic about North Korea", shortly after Washington and Seoul announced plans to postpone upcoming military drills in a bid to encourage stalled peace efforts.
"No one could be optimistic about North Korea. North Korea has repeatedly launched more than 20 missiles this year, including new types of ballistic missiles, as well as a submarine-launched ballistic missile," Mr Kono said at the opening of a so-called "trilateral" meeting of the defence chiefs in Bangkok, before news media were escorted from the room.