Japan says alleged North Korean sinking of SKorean warship threat to Asia

Japan calls NKorea a threat to Asia

TORONTO — Japan is calling North Korea a threat to Asia and urging world leaders to issue a strong condemnation over an international finding the North sank a South Korean warship.

A Japanese spokesman said Friday that new Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan told his counterparts from Canada and Germany attending a global economic summit in Toronto that North Korea’s alleged torpedo attack is a “threat to the peace and stability of the region.”

Spokesman Kazuo Kodama says Kan wants summit leaders to issue a “clear message of condemnation” of North Korea.

Kodama says Japan supports South Korea’s efforts to seek punishment in the U.N. Security Council over the March sinking.