Japan says the world should consider tough action if North Korea does not begin to make progress on promises made in February to shelve its nuclear weapons programme.
Japan's Foreign Minister, Taro Aso, made the statement during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.Aso is also urging the U.S. to continue pressing North Korea on the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by the communist regime in the 1960s and 1970s.Japan has vowed to take a hard line on all future dealings with Pyongyang.