TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his British counterpart Theresa May agreed Thursday their countries will strengthen security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, citing the threat from North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development.
They also confirmed that Japan and Britain will form a "new economic partnership" in light of the latter's withdrawal from the European Union, but did not make a clear commitment to the kind of two-way trade pact London is likely seeking.
Describing North Korea as a "global threat, including to Europe" following the launch on Tuesday of a ballistic missile across Japan, Abe told a joint press conference after the talks that he and May agreed to seek a greater role from China, which has economic ties to the North.
According to a joint statement announced after the meeting, Japan and Britain will work together and with other countries "to strengthen pressure against North Korea, including by increasing the pace of sanctions implementation and working towards the adoption of a new and effective resolution" at the U.N. Security Council.
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