Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida had a phone talk with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday to discuss tightening North Korean sanctions.

Kishida told the reporters at press briefing on Wednesday evening that Japan calls for Russia’s further involvement in restraining North Korea. Kishida said North Korea’s provocative action was a “significant threat to international peace and security, violates the UN Security Council Resolution and poses a serious challenge to international nuclear nonproliferation system.”

“Close cooperation between Japan and Russia was confirmed,” said Kishida.

“Japan delivered a message to confirm ties with Russia, a permanent member of