Today, on April 24, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed the situation around the DPRK by telephone with US President Donald Trump. He told reporters that the leaders of the two countries agreed to seek restraint from Pyongyang.

On the air of NHK, Abe said: "We fully agreed that we will continue to insist on restraint from North Korea, which does not stop the still dangerous provocative actions".

Abe said that he gave Trump a high assessment of the position of the US president "demonstrating in words and in deeds" that all options for solving problems with the DPRK are possible.

He stressed: "The nuclear and missile problem of North Korea poses an extremely serious threat to both the international community and the security of our country". The Prime Minister of Japan announced that on Sunday, April 23, in the Western Pacific, joint exercises were held with the participation of the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and the Japanese Marine Self-Defense Forces.

Abe stated: "Our country will resolutely react (to the actions of the DPRK), maintaining close cooperation with the US and a high degree of precaution".

Kyodo agency reported, referring to sources in the Japanese government, that Abe and Trump agreed to seek from China a more active role for solving the problems of the Korean peninsula.

Recall that the situation on the Korean Peninsula has escalated this month due to the expectation in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul of another nuclear test or ballistic missile launches in the DPRK. Pyongyang, for its part, warns that in the event of a threat to its security it is ready to launch preventive strikes against US military bases and ships in the region.