The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed their shared goal of North Korea scrapping its illicit weapons of mass destruction(WMD) and ballistic missile programs. 

The White House said the two leaders made the affirmation during telephone talks on Thursday which focused on U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo’s recent visit to North Korea. 

The leaders also agreed to continue close coordination in advance of Trump’s upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as well as to maintain trilateral cooperation with South Korea. 

Observers note that the White House did not use the terms “complete” or “permanent” in its latest statement, but it hasn't been determined if the move could suggest that Washington is adjusting its level of pressure on Pyongyang ahead of the U.S.-North Korea summit. 

Just last Saturday, the White House said that U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton and his Japanese counterpart Shotaro Yachi reaffirmed the shared goal of achieving the "complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction" when they met for talks.

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