Washington. January 6th. INTERFAX - US Secretary of State and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi discussed issues related to Ukraine's sovereignty and the DPRK's latest missile launch during a telephone conversation, the US State Department reported.
"The parties reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed efforts to deter Russia from further military actions or other aggressive actions," the State Department said in a statement.
It also notes that Blinken "condemned the launch of a ballistic missile by the DPRK."
"He stressed that the US commitment to Japan's defense remains unshakable. They also discussed cooperation in order to achieve complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," the State Department informed.
As reported, last Wednesday, North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan. In Pyongyang, they called this launch a test of a supersonic missile.
The State Department noted that the foreign ministers of the two countries also touched upon the issues of modernization of the US-Japanese alliance, coordination of strategic goals and further strengthening of cooperation, including in the field of combating the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery after it.