Japan prefers 6-party talks in dealing with N. Korea

TOKYO, April 15 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Taro Aso suggested Wednesday the six-party talks framework aimed
at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions should be the principal venue for its
allies to deal with the country after the United States showed willingness to
hold direct talks with Pyongyang.
''I think the right procedure (to be taken by the international community) is
to do various things in the six-party talks,'' Aso told reporters when asked
about recent remarks by top U.S. government officials. The remarks hinted at
the possibility of direct talks between the United States and North Korea to
resolve confrontation between the North and many other countries over
Pyongyang's missile and nuclear activities.
Echoing the premier's view, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a
regular press conference earlier in the day, ''The most sensible way for North
Korea...is to humbly listen to international opinion and return to the
six-party talks process.''
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the United States is
hopeful of eventually achieving a breakthrough through direct talks with North
Korea. When asked about her remarks, Kawamura said that he does not know of
such a U.S. intention.
Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea, made similar remarks
Tuesday when he met with Seiji Maehara, a vice president of the main opposition
Democratic Party of Japan, who was visiting the United States.
The top Japanese government spokesman stressed that the ''basis'' should be the
six-party talks framework, which involves the two Koreas, China, Japan, the
United States and Russia.
He also said there is a need for Japan to cooperate with related countries,
such as the United States and South Korea, in dealing with the matter.
According to a U.S. government official in Washington, North Korea on Tuesday
ordered U.S. nuclear experts who were disabling nuclear facilities in Yongbyon
and International Atomic Energy Agency staff monitoring the work to leave the
country.
The order was issued a day after the U.N. Security Council adopted a
presidential statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch on April 5, which
prompted the North to vow to further reinforce its nuclear deterrence and
threaten to withdraw from the six-party talks.
During the press conference in the morning, Kawamura also called on North Korea
to accept the presidential statement and take concrete actions in line with it.
==Kyodo