Boris Johnson: Britain 'shoulder to shoulder' with Japan over North Korea missile tests

Britain stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Japan in efforts to end North Korea's "reckless" missile programme, Boris Johnson has said.

The Foreign Secretary, speaking in Tokyo, also called on China to help bring the country back to the negotiating table.

North Korea claimed to have successfully test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) earlier this month , which US weapons analysts said was capable of reaching Alaska.

The claim was disputed by world powers, who nonetheless condemned the test.

The missile flew 930km (580 miles) for about 40 minutes and landed in the Sea of Japan in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

North Korea has continued its missile programme despite UN sanctions, which it says are an infringement of its right to self-defence.

On the second day of a three-day visit to Japan, Mr Johnson called the Hwasong-14 missile launch "a reckless provocation".

He said: "Britain stands shoulder to shoulder alongside Japan in our steadfast determination to stop North Korea's persistent violation of UN resolutions.

"We all need to increase the pressure on Pyongyang in diplomacy and sanctions, and that must include China using its influence to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table."

Japan's ties with China have been strained due to a dispute over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea while, in the South China Sea, China's construction of artificial islands and military deployments has unnerved its neighbours.

Mr Johnson's Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida added: "Rule-based international order is facing various forms of challenges such as North Korea's nuclear and missile development and what's happening in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

"Secretary Johnson and I agreed that Japan and Britain will demonstrate leadership to maintain a free and open international community."

Mr Johnson is in Japan for talks on trade and international security as part of a drive to boost Japanese investment in the UK as Britain prepares to leave the European Union .

Firms including Nissan, Toyota and Honda, who have been using Britain's membership of the single market to export goods to the continent, could be hit if Brexit leads to higher export tariffs and other barriers.

Mr Johnson said Japanese investment in the UK was at a "record high" since the June 2016 vote, adding that Britain would continue to develop "commercial and economic relations" with Japan.

The Foreign Secretary also met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, and donated an old mobile phone to a recycling programme to create medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The former London mayor was also asked to share his "expertise" on hosting the Games after overseeing the 2012 event.