The United States, Japan and South Korea warned on Wednesday that a North Korean nuclear test would prompt an "unprecedented forceful response", also pledging to show unity after multiple missile launches by the communist regime in Pyongyang.
"All three countries agreed on the need for an unprecedented force response if North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test," said South Korean Cho Hyun-dong.
After talks in Tokyo, the deputy foreign ministers of the three countries clearly promised to strengthen their deterrence in the region.
“We have agreed to further strengthen cooperation (…) so that North Korea immediately ends its illegal activities and resumes denuclearization talks,” Cho Hyun-dong said.
A missile flew over Japan last month
Seoul and Washington have repeatedly warned that Pyongyang could be on the verge of carrying out another nuclear test, for the first time since 2017, after a series of ballistic missile launches in recent weeks.
A missile flew past Japan last month and North Korea has separately claimed to have carried out tactical nuclear drills.
"All of these behaviors are dangerous and deeply destabilizing," said US Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, urging North Korea to "refrain from further provocations".
The Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister, Takeo Mori, for his part noted that “the intensification of North Korea's nuclear and missile activities (…) constitutes a clear and serious challenge for the international community”.
The three countries agreed to "strengthen deterrence in our region towards the denuclearization of North Korea", he added.
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