Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono pledged Tuesday to work to prevent the inflow of funds into North Korea that has allowed it to progress its nuclear and missile development programs, despite U.N. sanctions.

"There may be many loopholes in various places, such as Southeast Asia" that allow Pyongyang to obtain foreign currency, Kono, who took up the top diplomat post on Aug. 3, said in an interview.

"The most effective way (to tackle North Korea) is to stop the flow of money" into the country, Kono said, adding, "It is important to closely monitor the movement of people, goods and capital to close loopholes."

The latest sanctions on Pyongyang, adopted by the U.N. Security Council on Aug. 5, should be steadily implemented, Kono said, calling for cooperation from China, which accounts for about 90 percent of North Korea's foreign trade.

The new sanctions in response to Pyongyang's two long-range missile tests in July are likely to slash its $3 billion in annual export revenue by a third.

According to a classified report from a U.N. panel obtained by Kyodo News, North Korea has continued to generate foreign currency, with its export of banned commodities generating at least $270 million since February.

After China's suspension of coal imports from the North in February, Pyongyang "has been rerouting coal to other (U.N) member states including Malaysia and Vietnam," the report said.

With regard to neighboring countries in Asia, Kono said he has been confident in building close ties with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts since he met them on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related gatherings in Manila earlier this month.

Kono added he is willing to visit China and South Korea at an appropriate time.

With some South Korean media recently speculating that Kono may be inclined to renegotiate the "comfort women" deal signed in December 2015, on Tuesday he reiterated his stance that the deal, under which Tokyo and Seoul agreed that the comfort women issue was "resolved finally and irreversibly," should be steadily implemented.

"There is nothing more for me to add," said Kono about the bilateral pact.

Kono's father Yohei Kono, a former foreign minister, issued in 1993 as chief Cabinet secretary a landmark apology to the "comfort women," who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels.

Amid growing concerns over the threat of global terrorism, Kono also promised that Japan will play a more active role in achieving stability in the Middle East.

Earlier Tuesday, Kono and his wife held talks at a Tokyo lunch meeting with new U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty and his wife, the Foreign Ministry said.

Hagerty, a businessman close to U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to present his credentials to Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace later this month.