Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and his French counterpart, Florence Parly, agreed Saturday to maximize pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development. The ministers also confirmed at a meeting in Tokyo that their countries will cooperate to maintain maritime order and promote Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. Japan hopes to work to deepen its special partnership with France this year, including through mutual visits by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Abe, Kono said.
