U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2-L) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) hold a joint press conference with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (2-R) and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi (R) at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo by Kazuhiro Nogi/EPA-EFE
March 16 (UPI) -- The United States and Japan addressed North Korea's military threat and reaffirmed the defense of the disputed Senkaku Islands during a joint "2+2" meeting of top diplomats and military chiefs in Tokyo.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of State Lloyd Austin "reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea" with Japanese counterparts Tuesday and called on Pyongyang to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the State Department said.
Blinken and Austin, who are expected to travel to South Korea on Wednesday, also affirmed with Tokyo working with Seoul is essential to regional security.
"Trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea is critical for our shared security, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region," the State Department said.
The Biden Cabinet members' visit to Japan came the same day North Korean official Kim Yo Jong warned the United States against provoking Pyongyang. In Tokyo, Blinken said U.S. policy on North Korea is "under review."
"We're looking at whether various additional pressure measures could be effective, whether there are diplomatic paths that make sense, all of that is under review," the top U.S. diplomat said, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
"Going forward, we have a shared determination to deal with the challenge posed by North Korea, particularly when it comes to its nuclear missile programs, as well as, of course, its abuse of human rights."
U.S. and Japanese officials also criticized China's new coast guard law that would allow Chinese patrol boats to use firearms in Chinese-claimed waters. The United States guaranteed "unwavering commitment" on the defense of the Japan-claimed Senkaku Islands, Kyodo News reported.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the U.S. and Japanese militaries have been exercising near the Senkakus.
"We want to continue building on these drills," Kishi said.
