China Must Put Pressure On North Korea- Theresa May

Theresa May has called on China to "do
everything it can" to put more pressure
on North Korea to stop "illegal" and
"outrageous" missile tests.


The Prime Minister has landed in Japan for
an official visit, one day after Pyongyang
filed a missile over the north of the
country.



Speaking to journalists on the flight, Mrs
May said: "The actions of North Korea, of
DPRK, are illegal. They are significant
actions of provocation.


"I think it's outrageous. That's why we will
be working with our international
partners - as we have done previously but
we will be doubling our efforts with our
international partners to put pressure on
North Korea to stop these illegal activities."



Mrs May, who says she spoke to President
Xi Jinping about this issue at the G20
summit in Hamburg, added: "China has a
key role to play here in terms of the
pressure they can bring on North Korea."



She believes that Chinese pressure would
be "the best way" of influencing North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She added:

"We would encourage China to do
everything it can."


China's foreign minister says Beijing is
working with other members of the UN
Security Council on a response to the latest
missile launch but did not specify whether
a fresh set of sanctions is looming.
Officials in China, Pyongyang's only major
ally, have also urged all sides "to stick to
peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve
this issue".



The Prime Minister was asked three times
whether the UK would rule out military
action or the use cyber warfare
capabilities against North Korea - and
three times Mrs May dodged the question,
insisting that she would continue to work
with international partners.




Security and defence was always due to be
high on the agenda during the Mrs May's
three-day trip to Japan, but recent events
have added urgency to the talks.



This week Pyongyang for the first time
flew a ballistic missile designed to carry a
nuclear payload over Japan.




The Government says the UK is seeking to
"cement its position as Japan's strongest
security partner in Europe."




Mrs May said: "As our closest security
partner in Asia, we will also discuss how
we can work much more closely together
on cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and
defence - more important than ever in this
uncertain world."



The visit will include an audience with the
Emperor of Japan, a banquet with
business leaders, a ride on the bullet train
between Kyoto and Tokyo, as well as a
bilateral summit and private dinner with
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.




The post-Brexit trading relationship
between the UK and Japan will also be a
central aspect of the visit, with Mrs May
looking for a bilateral free trade deal
based on the one currently being
negotiated between Japan and the EU.



International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is
accompanying Mrs May along with 15
business leaders hoping to forge closer
ties with their Japanese counterparts.



It is notable that the relatively small
delegation only includes one bank,
Barclays Capital, and one car manufacturer,
Aston Martin.




Japanese officials have signalled that there
will be little progress on post-Brexit trade
talks but rather more questions over Mrs
May's stance on Brexit.



Yoshiji Nogami, president of Japan
Institute of International affairs, told the
Financial Times: "We can't negotiate until
Britain is out of the EU. I think what Mr
Abe wants to hear from the Prime Minister
is where she hopes to land on Brexit."



Last year, the Japanese government
released a 15-page document calling for
assurances over trade tariffs for its UK-
based firms that currently trade within the
EU.




It also asked that the UK maintain free
movement of workers within the EU and
for a commitment to secure the financial
services passport to operate in the EU.