Japan will maintain close contact with its allies, especially the United States, and prepare itself for a possible ballistic missile launch by North Korea by the middle of the month.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that his government would take whatever steps needed in cooperation with its allies in the context of North Korea's repeated threats of missile attacks against the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific. The North had moved one of its ballistic missiles to the country's east coast possibly for a launch coinciding with the birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il-sung.
Abe called for implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions on sanctions against the recalcitrant Communist State.
The Japanese government hopes to share and jointly analyze intelligence about the latest situation in North Korea with the United States. Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense officials are to hold a meeting on Tuesday on developments in the Korean peninsula, reports from Tokyo said.
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Political News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.