UN chief says sanctions key to denuclearise North Korea

Guterres, who met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today in Tokyo, also says North Korea must be denuclearized for peace and stability in the region. Guterres is in Japan to attend an international conference on universal health coverage.

Abe says he agreed that possible dialogue with North Korea must be meaningful and aimed at the country's denuclearisation.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said Washington is open to possible talks with North Korea but the White House says it must not only first refrain from provocations but take "sincere and meaningful actions toward denuclearization."