Japan PM strongly urges N. Korea to refrain from further provocative actions U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived by helicopter on Monday at a U.S. military base in South Korea next to the highly fortified DMZ border with North Korea, a day after the North launched a missile that blew up almost immediately. The failed launch occurred as Pence was en route to Seoul, the first stop on a four-nation Asia tour. Japan urges North Korea to refrain Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday urged North Korea to refrain from taking further provocative actions, comply with U.N. resolutions and abandon its nuclear missile development. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated as U.S. President Donald Trump takes a hard rhetorical line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has rebuffed admonitions from China and proceeded with missile tests. North Korea launched a failed ballistic missile test on Sunday. Abe, speaking to parliament, said that he would exchange views on North Korea with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they hold a summit meeting later this month. The United States, its allies, and China are working together on a range of responses to North Korea’s latest test, U.S. President Donald…