"U.S. and Japan condemn North Korea's missiles... Close coordination for complete denuclearization"

<Anchor>

Yesterday (21st) night, the leaders of the United States and Japan held the first video summit. The leaders of the United States and Japan jointly condemned North Korea's missile test launch and said they would closely coordinate for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Correspondent Yunsu Kim from Washington.

<Reporter>

U.S. President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida sat face to face in a video image.

This is the first U.S.-Japan summit since the Kishida cabinet was inaugurated in October of last year.

The two leaders put the North Korean issue on the agenda.

The White House said the two leaders first jointly condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch.

He added that they agreed to keep close coordination on the North Korean issue while keeping pace with South Korea toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

This is President Biden's first stance on North Korea since North Korea's recent succession of ballistic missile launches and hints of resumption of nuclear tests.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate with China.

In particular, the two countries decided to strengthen China's checks by establishing a new foreign and economic ministers' meeting following the existing foreign and defense ministers' meeting. [Kishida / Prime

Minister

of Japan: Agreed to cooperate closely on China-related issues including the East and South China Seas, Hong Kong, and Uyghurs and North Korea's missile launch.]

will be held in Japan in the first half of this year.

A senior US official said at a briefing immediately after the video summit that he would have more to say about North Korea in the next few days, hinting at the possibility of further measures against North Korea.