N. Korea to top agenda of Japan, China, S. Korea trilateral meeting

TOKYO, May 25 Kyodo

How to deal with the stalemate on the North Korean nuclear standoff will top the agenda of a trilateral meeting next month among the foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea on South Korea's Cheju Island, Japanese officials said Friday.

The June 3 meeting of Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Song Min Soon comes at a time when there appears to be no progress in North Korea's commitment to take initial steps toward denuclearization in line with a six-party accord.

In the trilateral meeting, Aso, Yang and Song are expected to also discuss their nations' cooperation on environmental conservation and efforts to conclude a trilateral investment agreement, the officials said.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Aso and Song will hold separate talks and mainly discuss the North Korean issues and other bilateral concerns.

Under a Feb. 13 agreement by the six parties, North Korea was to have shut down and sealed its Yongbyon nuclear facility and invited International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country by April 14 in return for the start of energy aid.

April 14 marked the last day of the 60-day period, but North Korea failed to comply with the accord, refusing to proceed with the six-party deal until it recovers the funds that were frozen at Macao-based Banco Delta Asia SARL.

Japan, China and South Korea are all participants in the six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and ultimately at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. The talks also involve North Korea, the United States and Russia.

Japan also remains at odds with North Korea over Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals, which is preventing both countries from normalizing diplomatic ties. Pyongyang says the issue had been resolved while Tokyo does not believe it to be so.

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