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Wednesday 19 april 2017

US VP Pence assures Japan: America is with you ‘100 percent’

KEN THOMAS and we will stand strongly ten statement he issued matter, said the missile was force. Pence on Monday
ROBERT BURNS with Japan and strongly shortly after the launch, a Scud variant that the U.S. had traveled to the tense
Associated Press with our allies for a peace in which he simply said he calls a KN-17. zone dividing the two Kore-
TOKYO (AP) — From two and security in this region,” was aware of the failure. Mattis credited China with as, where he warned North
continents, top Trump ad- Pence added. “The leader of North Korea trying to help get the North Korea’s leaders that after
ministration officials warned Said Abe: “It goes without again recklessly tried to pro- Korea situation “under con- years of testing the U.S. and
Tuesday that North Korea’s South Korea with its nuclear
latest failed missile launch ambitions, “the era of stra-
was a reckless act of prov- tegic patience is over.”
ocation and assured al- The unannounced visit at
lies in Asia that the United the start of Pence’s 10-
States was ready to work to day trip to Asia was a U.S.
achieve a peaceful denu- show of force that allowed
clearization of the Korean him to gaze at North Ko-
Peninsula. rean soldiers from afar
While Defense Secretary and stare directly across
Jim Mattis denounced a border marked by razor
North Korea’s weapons wire. As the brown bomb-
test as he began a Mid- er jacket-clad vice presi-
east tour, Vice President dent was briefed near the
Mike Pence offered sup- military demarcation line,
port to Japanese Prime two North Korean soldiers
Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo watched from a short dis-
amid a trip dominated by tance away, one taking
concerns about the rogue multiple photographs of
state’s nuclear intentions. the American visitor.
“We appreciate the chal- Pence told reporters Mon-
lenging times in which the day that Trump was hope-
people of Japan live with ful China would use its “ex-
increasing provocations Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence shake hands prior traordinary levers” to pres-
from across the Sea of Ja- to a luncheon hosted by Abe at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 18, sure the North to abandon
pan,” Pence said after ar- 2017. Pence arrived in Japan for talks Tuesday expected to focus largely on trade with America’s its weapons program. But
anchor ally in the region.
riving from Seoul for talks (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool) Pence expressed impa-
with Abe. “We are with you tience with the unwilling-
100 percent.” saying that it is a matter voke something by launch- trol” with the goal of denu- ness of the regime to move
At the outset of their meet- of paramount importance ing a missile,” he said. The clearizing the Korean Pen- toward ridding itself of nu-
ing, Pence reiterated to for us to seek diplomatic term “reckless” is one the insula. clear weapons and ballistic
Abe his statement in South efforts as well peaceable North Koreans have used President Donald Trump in missiles.
Korea that the United settlements of the issue.” to describe ongoing large- Washington and Pence at China made a plea for
States has run out of pa- “But at the same time,” the scale U.S. and South Kore- the Demilitarized Zone be- a return to negotiations.
tience with Pyongyang’s prime minister said, “dia- an military exercises, which tween North and South Ko- Foreign Ministry spokes-
moves. “While all options logue for the sake of dia- the North calls a dress re- rea have signaled a force- man Lu Kang said tensions
are on the table,” Pence logue is valueless and it is hearsal for an invasion. ful U.S. stance on North Ko- need to be eased on the
said, “President Trump is necessary for us to exercise Mattis did not identify the rea’s recent actions. But no Korean Peninsula to bring
determined to work closely pressure North Korea so type of missile but said it one was predicting what the escalating dispute to a
with Japan, with South Ko- that it comes forward and was not of intercontinental might come next. peaceful resolution. Lu said
rea, with all our allies in the engages in this serious dia- range, meaning it could Behind the heated rhetoric, Beijing wants to resume the
region, and with China” to logue.” not reach U.S. territory. He Trump’s strategy in the re- multi-party negotiations
resolve the problem. “We Mattis struck an even did not comment on what gion looks somewhat simi- that ended in stalemate in
seek peace always as a tougher tone on North Ko- might have caused the lar to predecessor Barack 2009 and suggested that
country, as does Japan, rea in an interview with re- missile to fail. Obama’s — albeit with the U.S. plans to deploy a mis-
but as you know and the porters traveling with him to Another official, speaking added unpredictability of sile defense system in South
United States knows, peace Saudi Arabia. His language on condition of anonymity a new president who has Korea were damaging its
comes through strength was stronger than in a writ- to discuss an intelligence shown he’s willing to use relations with China.q