Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ts.Munkh-Orgil, is currently visiting Japan. Yesterday (27^th of September), he met with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. At the meeting, the two foreign ministers agreed to strengthen economic ties between Japan and Mongolia after a bilateral free trade accord came into force in June. “Mongolia is an important regional partner that shares principle values” with Japan, Kishida said.

During the meeting they discussed  the decade-long ongoing issue of Pyongyang’s abductions of Japanese nationals, the Foreign Ministry said. Mongolia has diplomatic ties with North Korea while Japan does not. Ulaanbaatar has served as a convenient venue for Japan-North Korea talks over the abductions issue on several occasions.

Furthermore, Japan and Mongolia have agreed on coordinated action to press North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs after the reclusive state held its fifth nuclear test earlier this month despite international condemnation.

Following North Korea’s latest nuclear test on Sept. 9, Japan is seeking a fresh U.N. Security Council resolution to impose additional sanctions on North Korea, stressing the need for the international community to send a strong message that it will not tolerate further provocation by North Korea.