title: Japan says it and U.S. share stance pressure needed on North Korea
text: TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States are in  100 percent  agreement that  pressure should be maximized on North Korea over its weapons and nuclear program, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday. Suga, Japan s top government spokesman, said this was a stance they had previously affirmed.  He made the comment when asked about U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson s remark that the United States was open to holding direct talks with the rogue state. Tillerson offered on Tuesday to begin direct talks with North Korea without pre-conditions, backing away from a key U.S. demand that Pyongyang must first accept that any negotiations would have to be about giving up its nuclear arsenal. 