FOREIGN POLICY/JAPAN/MIKE PENCE/NORTH KOREA: “U.S. Vice President Mike Pence assured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday [4-18-17] that the United States stands ‘100 percent’ behind its anchor ally in Asia in working to defuse risks from North Korea’s nuclear program.
Pence struck a stern tone as he began talks with Abe and other Japanese leaders after arriving at a U.S. naval base from South Korea.
‘We appreciate the challenging times in which the people of Japan live with increasing provocations from across the Sea of Japan,’ Pence said. ‘We are with you 100 percent.’
The Trump administration has signaled a more forceful U.S. stance toward North Korea’s recent missile tests and threats, including a warning from Trump that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ‘gotta behave.’
In an interview with CNN Tuesday, Pence went on to say that it’s time for North Korea to ‘get the message.’ “
-Associated Press, “Pence: We stand by ally Japan on North Korea problem,” Politico, April 18, 2017 6:26am