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Japan says this is a time to raise pressure on North Korea

In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, left and second from left, fly with South Korean and U.S. fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula, South Korea Saturday, July 8, 2017. Two U.S. bombers flew to the Korean Peninsula to join fighter jets from South Korea and Japan for a practice bombing run as part of a training mission in response to North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, officials said Friday. (AP)
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS – Japan’s government spokesman says this is a moment to raise pressure on North Korea – not a time for dialogue.

Norio Maruyama said North Korea has reached “a new level” with its latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile “and this is a time to raise pressure in order to be able to conduct a serious dialogue.”

He told a briefing Monday for a group of U.N. correspondents that “dialogue for the sake of dialogue is meaningless.”

Maruyama said Japan is considering possible new sanctions, including on oil imports. In his words, “we need to see what sanctions are most successful.”

He urged all countries to implement U.N. sanctions and called on China and Russia to use their influence to play “an even more constructive role” with North Korea.