Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera  (Photo: AFP)

The United States said on Friday it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear missile program, and President Donald Trump warned of a "phase two" that could be "very, very unfortunate for the world" if the steps did not work. Kentaro Sonoura, a special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said after meeting with Thomas Shannon, undersecretary of state for political affairs, on Friday in Washington that Japan strongly supported US’s sanctions imposed on North Korea and added that the two allies agreed to maintain maximum pressure against Pyongyang.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday's action would "significantly hinder" North Korea's capacity to conduct evasive maritime activities that facilitate illicit coal and fuel transport, and erode its ability to ship goods through international waters.