The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it clear that dialogue is not working with Kim Jong-un’s hermit state and sanctions must be enforced.
He said: “Now is not the time for dialogue. Now is the time to apply pressure.”
The PM made the comments to a group of investors at the New York Stock Exchange, ahead of an address at the United Nations General Assembly.
China and Russia have repeatedly called for international diplomacy to deal with North Korea’s crisis of its weapons programme.
Mr Abe said: “We can’t be satisfied that the U.N. has approved new sanctions against North Korea.
“What’s crucial now is to put sanctions into effect without lapses and that requires close cooperation with China and Russia.”
On September 11, the UN Security Council increased sanctions against North Korea over its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, imposing a ban on the isolated nation’s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil.
North Korea fired a missile on Friday that flew over Hokkaido in northern Japan and landed far out into the Pacific Ocean.
Mr Abe said diplomatic attempts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear aspirations have failed over two decades.
“Dialogue for the purpose of having dialogue is meaningless,” Abe said at the New York Stock Exchange.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea in his speech to the U.N. that the United States would “totally destroy” the country if threatened.
The fight between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Trump escalated when the US chief said at the UN: “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.”
Japan has taken a hard line on North Korea and has pushed for increased sanctions and pressure.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said: “We greatly appreciate President Trump’s approach to changing North Korea’s policy stance, denuclearising the country and calling on the international community, including China and Russia, for their cooperation toward strengthening pressure on North Korea.”
Mr Abe is thought to be wanting to capitalise on a role of strong leadership in a time of crisis with North Korea.
The North Korean crisis has diverted attention away from various scandals in Japan, which have pushed down his approval ratings.