U.S. President Donald Trump’s likely choice for U.S. ambassador to Seoul, Harry Harris, has stressed the importance of solidarity among South Korea, the U.S., Japan and their allies in maintaining pressure on North Korea. 
 
According to Kyodo News, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command made the remarks in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held in Tokyo on Thursday. 
  
In the meeting, Abe asked Harris to continue his contribution to strengthening the alliance between the U.S. and Japan. Harris responded by saying that greater individual-level relations between the two countries’ nationals, including Trump and Abe, are helping boost the Washington-Tokyo alliance. 
 
Kyodo reported that the two would have discussed North Korea ahead of the regime’s summits with South Korea and the U.S. 
 
Prior to the meeting with Abe, Harris held talks with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera at the Defense Ministry. 

Local media outlets quoted Harris as saying in the meeting that now is a very critical time for South Korea, the U.S. and Japan to keep up pressure on Pyongyang in cooperation with their allies. 

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