WASHINGTON - The US-led air strikes against the Syrian regime also sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of talks with President Donald Trump, Japan's defense minister said Friday. "This is an action that was taken against weapons of mass destruction, and I think this gave a certain message to North Korea as well," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said through an interpreter. Mattis said last week's strikes on three facilities tied to Assad's chemical weapons program had garnered broad international backing. "There has been full support for that regrettable but necessary attack on his research and engineering part of his weapons program -- weapons of mass destruction. Trump and Kim are expected to have talks around Kim's nuclear program in late May or June.

Source: Bangkok Post April 20, 2018 20:37 UTC