Japan and the United States agreed Monday to keep pressuring North Korea to end its nuclear weapons drive, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said after meeting with Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs. Shiozaki also met with Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. The talks between the two allies were to confirm their ties ahead of the expected resumption of the long-stalled six-party talks to curb the Pyongyang nuclear threat. Coming on the heels of the North's reported Oct. 9 nuclear test, the talks are expected to restart as early as this month. "We will urge North Korea to give up all nuclear arms and existing – programs, following the U.N. Security Council resolutions 1695 and 1718,” Shiozaki said.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters after meeting with Burns that Japan and the U.S. cannot allow North Korea to possess nuclear arms.

Japan will not loosen its own sanctions or others based on the U.N. resolutions even if North Korea returns to the talks, Aso said.

He added that Japan and the U.S. will urge the other parties to the talks, except North Korea, to meet during the Nov. 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi.

Burns and Joseph are scheduled to visit South Korea on Tuesday, and China on Wednesday, where they will meet Russian delegates.

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