Japan, Britain vow to boost security ties

Tokyo, Jan 8: Foreign and defence ministers from Japan and Britain on Friday vowed to enhance bilateral security cooperation and condemned the latest nuclear test by North Korea earlier this week. According to a joint statement after the Japan-British “two plus two” meeting here, the two sides condemned North Korea’s first hydrogen bomb test carried out on Wednesday and saw the move as a “serious threat” to intertiol community, Xinhua news agency reported. The two sides also mulled to seek a new UN resolution against Pyongyang. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday discussed the issue with US President Barack Obama planning to take the lead with Washington on adopting the new resolution. On bilateral security ties, the ministers agreed to accelerate their talks for the early conclusion of an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, which will eble the Japanese Self-Defence Forces and the British military to share supplies and transportation services during UN peacekeeping operations. They also agreed to make progress on jointly studying on missile technology and defence equipment, including protection suits for chemical and biological weapons, the statement added. (IANS)