Japan, Thai defense chiefs vow cooperation on terror, N. Korea

BANGKOK, Jan. 4 Kyodo

Japanese Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma and Thai Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas vowed Thursday to boost cooperation between their countries on measures to tackle terrorism and deal with the North Korean missile and nuclear arms issues, Japanese officials said.

Kyuma was quoted by the officials as telling his Thai counterpart that the international community should censure North Korea's missile and nuclear activities and take concerted action.

Boonrawd told Kyuma that Thailand has also criticized the North's activities, they said.

North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles in July and conducted a nuclear test in October.

Boonrawd said during the meeting in Bangkok that terrorism, pirates and maritime security are of concern to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and stressed the importance of information exchanges, according to the officials.

Kyuma said Japan plans to take part in this year's Cobra Gold military drill in Thailand, in which Japan's Self-Defense Forces have officially participated since 2005, they said.

The United States and Thailand have conducted the drill annually since 1982.

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