The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Japan ‘can count on UK’ in face of N Korea threats
Theresa May tells Japanese prime minister that the UK can be Japan’s closest ally in Europe
Closer defence ties between Britain and Japan must be used to confront the threat from North Korea, the Prime Minister has said.
Theresa May told her Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, that his country can count on the UK as a “dependable” partner in the face of an increasingly aggressive Pyongyang.
Attending a meeting of the National Security Council in Tokyo, the first European leader to do so, Mrs May said a pact agreeing on closer defence and security ties showed the “deepening partnership and commitment to go further” between the two nations.
She said: “Through our deepening security partnership, we must work together to enhance our collective response to threats to the international order and global peace and security.
“That must include confronting the threat that North Korea poses and ensuring that this regime stops its aggressive acts.”
Earlier this week, Kim Jong-un launched a missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and it landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Mrs May added: “Against a backdrop of a more uncertain world, I want you all to know that Japan can count on the United Kingdom as a dependable and like-minded partner.”
Britain’s strategic defence and security review underlined how Japan is the UK’s closest security partner in Asia and “I’m determined that the UK should become Japan’s closest in Europe”, the PM said.
Mrs May and Mr Abe have agreed a deal that includes deployment of HMS Argyll to the region in December next year as well as UK and Japanese troops carrying out joint exercises.
Ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the UK will give advice on cyber security and both countries will work more closely on tackling terrorism.
Mr Abe said: “Our security cooperation this time is about to be elevated to a new level.
“Just two days ago North Korea went ahead with the reckless act of firing missiles, this time over Japan, and I do hope the United Kingdom and Japan can work together to deal with the threat of North Korea.”
Mrs May was earlier taken around the Japanese maritime self-defence force’s carrier Izumo where British forces personnel are currently sharing mine clearance expertise.
Pyongyang has massive mine stocks that could paralyse Japanese shipping lanes.
The PM met mine clearers from the Royal Navy during the hour-long tour on the outskirts of Tokyo.
“We have found many areas of commonality and we are looking to bring that forward into the future with more opportunities to train together,” Lieutenant Commander Alasdair Magill told Mrs May.