TOKYO (AP) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that unified efforts to fully implement sanctions on North Korea are key to resolve the country’s growing missile and nuclear threat.
Guterres, who met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, also said that North Korea must be denuclearized for peace and stability in the region. Guterres was in Japan to attend an international conference on universal health coverage.
He said that Security Council resolutions need to be fully implemented not only by North Korea but also others. The measures are crucial to ensure that sanctions are in place and achieve the goal of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, he said.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gestures while speaking during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
“Unity of the Security Council is crucial on this,” he said, adding that it is also important to allow for a diplomatic engagement toward a peaceful resolution.
Abe said he agreed that possible dialogue with North Korea must be meaningful and aimed at the country’s denuclearization.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said Washington is open to possible talks with North Korea but the White House says it must not only first refrain from provocations but take “sincere and meaningful actions toward denuclearization.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, speaks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe listens during their joint news conference at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands during their joint news conference at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a photo before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, third from left, walks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second from left, for a meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, during a meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a photo before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Guterres is in Tokyo to participate in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reviews an honor guard before a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bow to their flags while reviewing an honor guard before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe review an honor guard before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from left, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reviews an honor guard before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from left, is shown the way by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while reviewing an honor guard before their meeting at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
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