"TOKYO (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday warned Japan that Iran and North Korea posed a joint threat to the world, accusing Pyongyang of proliferating weapons to the Middle East.
His contention was strongly rejected by Iran, whose ambassador accused him of lumping the two countries together to stir up public opinion in Japan.
Echoing US President George W. Bush, Olmert warned of an "axis of evil," saying it linked North Korea, Iran and Syria, as well as the militant anti-Israeli Islamic movements, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Araghchi, a former senior troubleshooter at Iran's foreign ministry who was appointed to Tokyo this month, said Japan's position was just to "share concerns" about Iran's insistence on enriching uranium.
Olmert on his visit agreed to step up business with Japan, which has invested little in Israel in recent years."
This move by Israel is a cliche of what other western countries have been trying to do to Iran. Although, linking Iran with North Korea in a "axis of evil" is a rather new development. The statement does not seem to carry much alarm since Japan remains neutral on the issue.
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