Japan expressed “deep concern” about North Korea’s nuclear weapons at a ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament on Monday, urging countries to fully implement international sanctions against Pyongyang.

State Minister on Foreign Affairs Washio Eiichiro made the remarks at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament in Madrid, which he attended virtually. Top officials from 16 countries — including South Korea, Germany and Sweden — joined the event both in-person and remotely.

“State Minister Washio … reiterated Japan’s deep concern on North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and emphasized the importance of full implementation