UK PM calls on Japanese Emperor

Visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May called on Japanese Emperor Akihito on Friday, the highlight of the last day of her official visit to the Asian country.

Akihito, 83, received May in the Imperial Palace here, where they spoke for around 20 minutes, a spokesperson for the Imperial Household Agency told Efe news.

Among other topics, they talked about Princess Kako, second granddaughter of the emperor, who is moving to the UK this month to study at the University of Leeds, where May's father also studied, the spokesperson said.

The audience with the emperor was the last major event on May's official agenda for Friday, the third and final day of her official visit.

May met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday evening, the discussions dominated by the UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU) and North Korea's launch of a missile which flew over Japan on Tuesday.

Both leaders agreed to work on a future bilateral trade agreement once London formalises its exit from the EU, and pledged to join forces to intensify pressure on Pyongyang about its constant weapons tests.

--IANS

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