Japan welcomes ASEAN's call to halt violence in Myanmar

Japan's top government spokesman on Monday welcomed ASEAN leaders' agreement on the need to put an immediate stop to the violence in Myanmar, where security forces continue their deadly crackdown on protestors against February's military coup.The five-point consensus reached at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Saturday is the "first step toward improving the situation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press conference.In addition to calling for a halt to the violence, the consensus states constructive dialogue will be held to seek a peaceful resolution…READ FULL ARTICLE