Japan sought support against neighboring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vistied Havana, meeting with one of Pyongyang’s few diplomatic allies besides China.
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Japan, the United States and China are pushing for a strong Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea for escalating provocations in defiance of existing Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from conducting nuclear tests and missile launches.
The leaders condemned North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests and resolved to coordinate closely, including at the United Nations and with the Republic of Korea, in countering this threat.
“The Prime Minister pointed out the necessity [for] the worldwide community to respond to this rigorously in unity”, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura told reporters following Abe’s 70-minute meeting with Fidel Castro on Thursday.
The prime minister is also likely to call for increased coordination with Cuba for reforming the U.N. Security Council.
Mr Abe’s visit to the Caribbean island is one of a slew by Western leaders since it began normalising ties with the United States almost two years ago.
Prior to the talks with Castro, Abe met with former President Fidel Castro, Raul’s elder brother and leader of Cuba’s 1959 revolution.
The parties also discussed the Paris Agreement on climate change with Abe vowing to do his utmost to ensure that Japan joins the treaty.
In an address to the annual United Nations general assembly, Abe said the world needed to thwart North Korea’s plans and it was time for the UN security council to “indicate an unmistakable attitude to this threat”.
Japan has a long history of trade with Cuba, importing seafood, tobacco and coffee while exporting machinery.
Speaking to Havana’s mouthpiece “Granma”, Abe said he hoped to expand trade after Cuba’s decision to make its economy more business-friendly.
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The reorganisation of Cuba’s debt towards Japan, signed this week, should help towards that goal, he said.
