Trump and Abe speak about North Korea tensions as Japanese warships join US carrier strike group for drills

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump agreed in telephone talks Monday morning to keep urging North Korea, which continues to pursue nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development, to exercise self-restraint.

“I had an in-depth exchange of views with President Trump about the situation in North Korea,” Abe told reporters after the leaders’ third such conversation this month.

“We completely agreed to strongly seek self-restraint from North Korea, which is still continuing its dangerous provocative acts,” Abe said at the prime minister’s office.

“The issue of North Korea’s nuclear and missile (development) is an extremely grave threat to security, not just for the international community but also for Japan.

North Korea is thought to be preparing to conduct further test-firings of missiles or a sixth nuclear test, possibly around the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army on Tuesday.

Trump will also have a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a White House official said in Washington on Sunday.