REFILING: Japan, Russia agree to cooperate for firm U.N. resolution on N. Korea+

TOKYO, May 28 Kyodo -
(EDS: MOVING OFFICIAL TITLES OF LAVROV, NAKASONE TO 2ND GRAF)
Japan and Russia agreed Thursday to cooperate in producing a ''strong'' U.N.
Security Council resolution in response to North Korea's second nuclear test
Monday, the Foreign Ministry said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also told Japanese Foreign Minister
Nakasone that Russia is ready to discuss specific sanctions on Pyongyang when
the Security Council studies a new resolution on the North, according to the
ministry.
In telephone talks with Lavrov, Nakasone called for swift adoption of a strong
resolution containing additional sanctions against North Korea, the ministry
said in a press release.
Nakasone said Japan wants to closely cooperate with Russia over the matter,
citing Moscow's important role as one of the five permanent Security Council
members with veto power, according to the ministry.
Lavrov said Russia believes the Security Council needs to issue a strong,
unequivocal message on North Korea's latest action, which he said the
international community cannot accept.
==Kyodo