Japan, U.S., S. Korea to hold talks on N. Korean nuke issue

Japan Policy & Politics, July 22, 2003

TOKYO, July 16 Kyodo

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima indicated Wednesday officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea may meet to discuss the North Korean nuclear problem following China's dispatch of a special envoy to Pyongyang.

''Japan, the U.S. and South Korea have been promoting close collaboration (on the North Korean nuclear problem) and we will continue that,'' Takashima said at a news conference, indicating the three countries may soon hold a meeting.

Takashima made the remark in reference to China's efforts to encourage North Korea to accept five-nation talks including Japan, the U.S., China and South Korea to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo returned from Pyongyang on Tuesday after talking to North Korean officials, including top leader Kim Jong Il, to whom he handed a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Takashima said China will brief the Japanese government about the outcome of the trip.