US Secretary of State in Japan for talks

(Vatican Radio) The U.S. Secretary of State is in Tokyo, the final stop of a world tour, which has focused in large part on the crisis with North Korea. John Kerry said nations in the region agree that a way must be found to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Speaking in Tokyo after talks with his Japanese counterpart, the U.S. Secretary of State said North Korea's neighbours will not tolerate it having nuclear weapons -- and that includes its ally China. Listen to this report from Alastair Wanklyn in Tokyo:

John Kerry said North Korea would find the United States a "ready partner" for talks. But he said it's important now to avoid the cycle of recent years, which has led to the present standoff with North Korea threatening to start a nuclear war. Some analysts expect Pyongyang to perform some kind of military gesture Monday, the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's late founder.

Japan's foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, said talks could only take place when North Korea honours existing commitments, such as those regarding its nuclear and missile programmes. On Monday, the U.S. Secretary of State winds up his world tour with a public speech here in Tokyo, and with talks with the Japanese prime minister. Other subjects on the agenda include negotiations for a free-trade zone between nations around the Pacific Ocean, a group that excludes China.