Japan, SKorea favour holding six-party talks without NKorea.

28/6 Tass 72

TOKYO, June 28 (Itar-Tass) - South Korea and Japan agreed to consider
the question of organizing the six-party talks on the nuclear problem of
the Korean Peninsula in a reduced format - without North Korea, said on
Sunday the Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and the South Korean President
Lee Myung-bak (who is on a one-day visit to the Japanese capital) at a
joint news conference.

"We expressed common opinion that five countries of the six could
discuss what steps should be taken to make Pyongyang stop nuclear
development studies," said the South Korean leader.
In turn, the Japanese government's head noted that Tokyo and Seoul
regard the six-party format of talks "as the most efficient for searching
a settlement of the North Korea nuclear problem". "Therefore, we intend to
take every effort for their earliest resumption," he added.
The two leaders also noted that they intend to continue close
cooperation with other countries so as to ensure their security, which
turned to be in jeopardy in connection with the latest actions by North
Korea. In the opinion of the two leaders, it is necessary to exactly
fulfill the resolution of the UN Security Council, adopted in response to
the Pyongyang's nuclear test.
International problems that came under discussion between the South
Korean president and the Japanese premier, included activities to fight
pirates off the Somali shores and joint efforts to aid Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
Premier Aso and President Myung-bak also examined other issues,
including a resumption of talks on signing an Agreement on economic
partnership. The sides agreed to start a new round of consultations on
July 1. They were suspended in 2004 after Tokyo's refusal to accept Seoul'
s proposal on opening its domestic market for deliveries of South Korean
agricultural goods.
President Myung-bak has been visiting Japan for the fourth time as the
head of state. It was planned initially that his visit would last two days
and will include a trip to the ancient Japanese capital - Kyoto. However,
the time of the Japanese stay was shortened after getting information that
Pyongyang may conduct preparations for a new launch of a long-range
ballistic missile.
-0-bur/kud