TOKYO - The United States is set to unveil its "toughest and most aggressive round" of economic sanctions on North Korea as part of its drive to squeeze dry revenue streams into the country, US Vice-President Mike Pence said here on Wednesday (Feb 7).
With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next to him, Mr Pence also warned the world not to be seduced by Pyongyang's charm offensive at the Winter Olympics opening on Friday.
"We will not allow North Korean propaganda to hijack the message and imagery of the Olympic Games," he said, following 90 minutes of talks with Mr Abe.
"We will not allow North Korea to hide behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten the wider region."
Mr Abe, on his part, said: "Unless North Korea shows sincere willingness to denuclearise and take concrete steps towards that goal, we cannot expect any meaningful dialogue."
Mr Pence, who is on his second trip to Tokyo as Vice-President, did not elaborate on what the newest sanctions will entail against what he termed the "most tyrannical and oppressive regime on the planet".
Both leaders agreed that any strategy that might lead to pressure being eased on Pyongyang is a non-starter until which point it gives up its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner.
They will travel to Pyeongchang for the opening ceremony of the Winter Games, and are due to meet South Korean President Moon Jae In.
At the same time, North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam and leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong will be in Pyeongchang.
Mr Pence highlighted Pyongyang's string of "human rights abuses", including the jailing of American student Otto Warmbier, who spent 17 months in a North Korean prison. He was released last year but died soon after returning to the US.
Mr Pence has invited Mr Warmbier's father Fred to Pyeongchang.
Last year, North Korea test-fired 23 missiles in a barrage of tests, including a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-15, that is said to put much of mainland US within range.
It also conducted its sixth - and most powerful - nuclear test with an explosive force about 15 times more powerful than the bomb that flattened Hiroshima in World War II.
"We will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programme once and for all," Mr Pence said. "All options are on the table, and the US has deployed some of our most advanced military assets to Japan and the wider region, to protect our homeland and our allies."
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Pence inspected a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile battery that is Japan's last line of defence against incoming missiles.
Japan is upgrading its missile defence systems with new US equipment, while Mr Pence said the 50,000 US military personnel in Japan who "stand shoulder to shoulder" with the 200,000-strong Self-Defence Force showed Washington's unwavering commitment.
While trade friction was not a key issue during Wednesday's talks, Mr Pence stressed Washington's intention to promote "strong and balanced growth based on free and fair trade".
The US has repeatedly assailed Japan for its US$68.8 billion (S$90.8 billion) trade surplus. Mr Abe did not comment on economic issues in his statement.
Kobe University political scientist Tosh Minohara told The Straits Times that the outcome of the leaders' talks suggest their underlying shared concern that Mr Moon might relent and take a softer approach towards North Korea.
"They want to tell him not to be deceived, and that unilateral actions by Pyongyang should never undermine the union of democracies," Dr Minohara said.
