Asia-Pacific News

Obama tells Abe: US committed to Japan security in wake of NKorea nuclear test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches a firing contest of the KPA artillery units at an undisclosed location in a photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on Jan. 5, 2016.
KCNA | Reuters

President Barack Obama talked by phone on Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the international response to North Korea's nuclear test, the White House said.

Obama reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Japan's security and the two leaders "agreed to work together to forge a united and strong international response to North Korea's latest reckless behavior," the White House said in a statement.

"Separately, the President congratulated Prime Minister Abe on the recent agreement between Japan and the ROK (South Korea) to resolve the longstanding 'comfort women' issue," the statement said.

People watch a news report on North Korea's first hydrogen bomb test at a railroad station in Seoul on January 6, 2016. South Korea 'strongly' condemned North Korea's shock hydrogen bomb test and vowed to take 'all necessary measures' to penalise its nuclear-armed neighbour. The image shown on TV shows files images from other nuclear tests from other countries.
UN Security Council condemns N Korean nuke test, to begin work on 'measures'

North Korea said on Wednesday it had successfully conducted the test of a miniaturized hydrogen nuclear bomb, drawing threats of further sanctions even though the United States and weapons experts voiced doubts the device was as advanced as the isolated nation claimed.

Abe was one of the first world leaders to condemn Pyongyang's actions, saying that Japan "absolutely cannot tolerate" nuclear testing by the isolated Communist country.

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