Japan, US. Agree to Promote Missile Defense System
Japanese news reports say Japan and the United States have agreed to promote a missile defense system to ensure security in the Asia Pacific region.
Japan's Kyodo news service reports Thursday that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso discussed the issue on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.
The news service reports the two diplomats discussed the defense system in light of North Korea's recent nuclear test. It also said they agreed that concrete agreements need to be reached during upcoming six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program.
Earlier Thursday in Hanoi, Rice met with regional foreign ministers and told them the prosperity of the region is closely tied to combating threats such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the spread of pandemic disease.
日本媒体报导说，日本和美国同意推动导弹防御系统，以确保亚太地区的安全。
日本共同社星期四报导说，美国国务卿赖斯和日本外相麻生太郎在越南首都河内出席亚太经合组织会议期间讨论这个问题。
报导说，鉴于北韩最近的核试验，他们讨论了防御系统问题。报导还说，两人一致认为，需要在即将举行的朝核六方会谈中达成具体协议。
星期四早些时候，赖斯会晤了亚太地区国家外交部长，赖斯说，亚太地区的繁荣与反恐、遏制大规模杀伤性武器的扩散和防治传染病等努力紧密相连。
