Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that he positively assesses North Korea's intent to engage in dialogue on the issue of denuclearization.

Shortly after holding telephone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Abe said the outcome is a result of continued pressure on the North by the international community. 

He said there is no change in Tokyo and Washington’s stance that they will continue to apply maximum pressure on the North until it takes substantial action to scrap its nuclear weapons program in a complete and verifiable manner. 

Abe said he also agreed with Trump to hold a summit in Washington in April.  

He said he will work closely with Trump to address the North’s nuclear and missile program as well as Japanese abductees in the North.