The United States, Japan and South Korea want cooperation -- not confrontation -- with North Korea, visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said Wednesday, urging Pyongyang to show restraint in attempting to launch another missile.
Speaking at a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Cohen said the three countries are prepared to work with North Korea to open economic and political opportunities -- if Pyongyang avoids creating an element of instability and uncertainty in the region by test-launching a missile and works toward building a positive relationship with the international community.
Though he refrained from going into specifics, he said the Japanese, South Korean and U.S. governments have engaged in close consultation on the coordinated diplomatic and economic steps they intend to take if Pyongyang exercises restraint.
Nonetheless, Cohen maintained a strict tone should North Korea defy the countries' warning.
"A refusal to show restraint, however, would have serious negative implications on our relationship, stalling or stopping potential cooperation to benefit North Korea," he said.
Cohen reiterated that much would depend upon Pyongyang's response to the revised U.S. policies toward the country being designed by U.S. policy coordinator for North Korea William Perry.
Under Perry's "comprehensive and integrated" approach, the three countries are likely to ask North Korea to abandon its missile and nuclear development programs in return for providing Pyongyang with expanded economic and diplomatic benefits.