Tokyo, Feb. 15 (Jiji Press)–Shinsuke Sugiyama, the next Japanese ambassador to the United States, said Thursday that he will do all he can to resolve the issues of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and its abductions of Japanese nationals.

“I’ll make my utmost effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear, missile and abduction issues, under strong cooperation between Japan and the United States, and among the two plus South Korea,” Sugiyama, who will arrive in the United States next month, said in an interview with news organizations.

The situation over the North Korean issues is “far from improving, but even worsening,” the former vice foreign minister pointed out. The current situation “can be called the biggest crisis for Japan’s security since World War II,” he said.

“With the maximum pressure policy against North Korea, we’ll continue efforts to convince North Korea that it has no future unless it changes its policy,” Sugiyama said.

Sugiyama said the Japan-U.S. alliance will remain firm on North Korean issues, noting that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump have a “very close and firm personal relationship of trust.”