Japan and Mekong nations agree to keep U.N. sanctions in place against North
Top diplomats from Japan and five Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong River have pledged to maintain U.N. economic sanctions aimed at pressuring North Korea to achieve complete denuclearization as promised. The agreement Friday came amid growing concern that countries friendly to North Korea, such as China, will ease up on the sanctions soon, eroding efforts by the international community to prevent Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.