Visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stressed the importance of implementing the U.N. resolution on Pyongyang and urged Japan to play a leading role in slashing green house gas emission in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister in Tokyo Wednesday.

Ban told a joint press conference with Aso that it is crucial to seriously implement the U.N. resolution to punish Pyongyang after its second underground nuclear test in May, as well as to bring the country back to the six-party talks, which groups Japan, China, Russia, the United States and two Koreas.

Aso said it is imperative that the international community not admit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a nuclear power and work together to persuade it to abandon nuclear plans.

During their meeting, Aso briefed to Ban Japan's target of reducing global warming gases by 15 percent by 2020 compared with the 2005 level. Ban commended Tokyo's efforts.

The U.N. chief said Japan should substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions through its financial and technological assistance to poorer countries.

Earlier in the day, Ban met business leaders at the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, requesting that Japan demonstrate leadership in working out a new international framework to cope with climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrived in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon and held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone later in the day.

It is Ban's third visit to Japan since he became chief of the world body in 2007. Ban is also planning to travel to Myanmar after his trip to Japan.

Source: Xinhua