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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Russia, Japan to keep close watch on implementation of Putin-Abe agreements

The Russian and Japanese top diplomats express satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Artyom Korotayev/TASS Host Photo Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

© Artyom Korotayev/TASS Host Photo Agency

MOSCOW, September 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida have held a telephone conversation to agree to keep close watch on progress in the implementation of the agreements concluded between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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Russia, Japan discuss expansion of cooperation in eight areas of economy — Lavrov

"The ministers expressed satisfaction over the active development of bilateral relations between Russia and Japan as a result of meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Sochi in May and in Vladivostok in September," the Russian Foreign Ministry said after the conversation held at the initiative of the Japanese side. "It was agreed the foreign ministers will keep close watch on the implementation of the achieved agreements."

At a meeting with Putin in Sochi on May 6 Abe proposed an eight-point cooperation plan. It was approved is a basis and is now undergoing further consideration. Last time the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 2. Abe said afterwards that Putin’s visit to Japan was due at the end of this year. Putin and Abe will meet in Nagato, the Japanese prime minister’s hometown, on December 15.

North Korea’s nuclear test

The top diplomats also discussed the nuclear test conducted by North Korea last week.

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"They also discussed North Korea’s nuclear test conducted in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the ministry noted. "The Russian side pointed to the need for strictly complying with these resolutions and the importance of the political and diplomatic settlement of the situation in the context of the overall military and political detente in Northeast Asia."

North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test on September 9. Pyongyang said it confirmed that the nuclear warhead could be installed on the country’s ballistic missiles. The South Korean Defense Ministry has said that it is the most powerful nuclear device North Korea has tested so far. Its yield is estimated at about 10 kilotonnes. Prior to that, North Korea conducted four nuclear tests - in 2006, 2009, 2013 and January 2016.

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Foreign policy Situation on the Korean Peninsula

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