U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will coordinate their next steps to achieve North Korea’s denuclearization when they meet at the White House this week, a senior U.S. government official said Thursday. Abe will be in Washington on Friday for an official working visit, which will include bilateral meetings involving national security and trade officials, and a private dinner between the two leaders and their spouses, the official said during a background briefing. “It’s an important opportunity for the leaders to exchange views on recent developments with North Korea … and to coordinate future actions,” the official said.

Referring to South Korea by its official name, he added, “Those future actions, of course, would also include consultations with our close partner and U.S. ally, the Republic of Korea, aimed at achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea.” Trump is scheduled to visit Japan next month as the first state guest following the May 1 enthronement of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. Friday’s dinner will also mark the birthday of Trump’s wife, Melania.

(Yonhap)