MAY CONDEMNS ‘RECKLESS’ NORTH KOREA
THERESA May yesterday condemned North Korea in the “strongest terms possible” for violating UN resolutions over its missile programme.
She pledged to work with other countries to increase pressure on dictator Kim Jong-un – including faster implementation of sanctions against his “reckless” regime.
On a three-day visit to Japan, Mrs May said closer defence ties between Britain and Japan must be used to confront the threat from North Korea.
She told the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that his country could count on the UK as a “dependable” partner in the face of an increasingly aggressive Pyongyang.
Mrs May and Mr Abe have agreed a defence pact that includes deployment of the warship HMS Argyll to the region next year as well as troops carrying out joint exercises.
She said: “Through our deepening security partnership, we must work together to confront the threat that North Korea poses and ensure this regime stops its aggressive acts.” Meanwhile, the US and South Korea staged a show of force by flying state-of-the-art stealth jets over the Korean peninsula. Four F-35B fighter planes joined two US B-1B bombers and four South Korean jets in the military exercises.
North Korea yesterday released commemorative stamps to mark its successful test of an intercontinental missile. The set includes images describing the launch in July, with one showing Kim Jong-un clapping surrounded by soldiers.
As tensions mounted the Japanese coastguard fired water cannon at North Korean fishing boats after crews ignored orders to leave their territorial waters.