Japan, SKorea, China criticize NKorea missile launch

TOKYO (AA) – Japan, South Korea and China presented a united front Wednesday by criticizing North Korea for test-firing a submarine-launched ballistic missile and pledging to enhance their cooperation in dealing with Pyongyang during a meeting in Tokyo.

Local news agency Kyodo reported that the foreign ministers of the three nations reached an agreement hours after the latest projectile launched by the North landed in waters under Japan's air defense identification zone.

Japan’s Fumio Kishida, China’s Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung Se reportedly did not discuss sensitive issues such as territorial disputes and criticisms of Japan’s attitude toward its imperial wartime history.

Kishida told a joint press conference that the North's latest launch was a "provocative act that simply cannot be tolerated" and the three ministers had affirmed the need to urge Pyongyang to "exercise restraint" and adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Kyodo also quoted Wang as saying that their countries “are opposed to North Korea's nuclear and development process and to any actions that raise tension in the situation in the Korean Peninsula".

Pyongyang was hit by strengthened UN punitive measures following its fourth ever nuclear test earlier this year.

Despite its role as Pyongyang’s traditional ally, Beijing is treading a delicate path between cooperating with the North and enforcing sanctions as a means to bring about a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

The South’s military described Wednesday’s launch as seemingly “aimed at raising military tension in response to the Seoul-Washington military drill", which is set to run to Sept. 2 with the participation of about 75,000 troops.

On Wednesday, the top diplomats also agreed to work toward gathering for a three-way summit hosted by Japan later this year.

"There are various outstanding issues among Japan, China and South Korea, but it is important to overcome them with political wisdom to promote cooperation," Kishida said.

An unnamed Japanese Foreign Ministry official cited by Kyodo said the ministers also avoided discussion of an advanced U.S. antimissile defense system set to be deployed in the South despite objections from Beijing, which is concerned that it would be a pretext for Washington to spy on China.

The talks were also held after Tokyo lodged several protests earlier this month after Chinese government vessels reportedly entered waters claimed as Japanese territory near the Senkaku Islands -- which Beijing calls the Diaoyu Islands.

Disputes over the island chain had resulted in the trilateral foreign ministerial meeting not being held in 2013 or 2014.