Aso willing to work with Obama to move N. Korea issues: Kawamura

TOKYO, Feb. 26 Kyodo - Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Thursday that Prime Minister Taro Aso showed willingness to work with the new U.S. administration when he criticized the dministration of former President George W. Bush for using ''a bit of vague wording'' in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue.

In an interview with the Washington Post after meeting U.S. President Barack
Obama on Tuesday, Aso said, ''In the latter days of the Bush administration, I
believe there was a tendency to engage in discussions putting the issue of
verifiable inspections in a bit of vague wording.''
''In that sense, the fact that Secretary (Hillary) Clinton was quite explicit
about the verification inspection aspect is quite welcome,'' Aso added.
On Aso's remarks, Japan's top spokesman told a news conference, ''As a result,
the North Korean issues were stalled (under the previous U.S. administration,)
but I suppose Prime Minister Aso is willing to concretely move forward the
six-party talks together with the Obama administration.''
Also in the interview, Aso said the six-party framework has changed to ''three
to three'' from ''four to two,'' noting that South Korea's stance over North
Korea is coming toward the U.S.-Japan side under the Lee Myung Bak
administration. ''That has changed a lot,'' he said.
On this remark, Kawamura explained that Aso emphasized the importance of
trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea and had
not intended to play down the six-party talks.
==Kyodo