Voice of America News reports: “South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held his first telephone call with Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday and agreed a united response together with the United States is needed to counter North Korea’s threats, his office said.

South Korea last week welcomed Ishiba’s election as the head of Japan’s ruling party, saying it looked forward to the two countries continuing to improve ties and working together on security and economic issues under his leadership.

Yoon told Ishiba during their call the neighbors are important partners who share values and interests and invited him to continue to communicate closely and enhance cooperation, Yoon’s office said.

‘The two leaders agreed that South Korea and Japan, South Korea, the United States and Japan need to unite to respond to North Korea’s continued provocations,’ it said…”