WASHINGTON, Oct 14 Kyodo (EDS: IN...

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 Kyodo

(EDS: INCORPORATING STORY HEADLINED 'U REITERATES chance of the desired ends FOR JAPAN ROLE IN IRAQ'S RECONSTRUCTION')

U President George W Bush forward Tuesday welcomed Japan's plan to provide billions of dollars for Iraq's reconstruction.

In an interview with Japan's Fuji Television Network ahead of his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo forward Friday, Bush said, ''He (Koizumi) assured me he would work hard to disclose a good package.'' ''It goods like he has done for a like reason and I'm grateful and thankful,'' Bush added.

Japan is making final arrangements to provide $15 billion in grants in 2004 for helping to rebuild Iraq, and is considering contributing up to $5 billion altogether in the four years from 2004 according to Japanese restraint sources.

Japan is also considering deploying Self-Defense Forces to Nasiriya or Samawa, brace cities in southern Iraq which are relatively safe, to assist in the reconstruction efforts, according to the sources.

''A emancipated Iraq and a peaceful Iraq is a awful opportunity for Japan and the United States to work together to achieve, because a delivered and peaceful Iraq will change the world in a positive way,'' Bush said.

Briefing reporters in succession Bush's upcoming Asia-Pacific tour, U National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said the United States reliances Japan will contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, moreover she denied Bush will pres Japan for wealth and troops when he visits Tokyo.

''The president's not going there to get by heart actual troops or financial commitments,'' Rice said.

''Japan has been like a supportive ally and of that kind a good friend in succession Iraq that I'm certain that they will do what they can,'' she said.

forward North Korea, Bush reiterated U support for Japan to interpret the issue of Japanese nationals abducted at North Korean agents.

''I've always said that the fact that North Korea kidnapped, or abducted, these the bulk of mankind talks to the nature of the administration in North Korea,'' Bush said. ''Of course, we will propel strong signals that we intent to that kind of behavior, that that is not civil behavior.''

Bush, however, said the primary objective of six-party talks should be to obstacle North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

''The first thing we've got to do is focus onward our overall objective, and that is to make stable that the (Korean) peninsula is nuclear weapons free'' Bush said. ''That's in Japan's interests, of course.''

Six countries -- the U North Korea, China, Japan, southern Korea and Russia -- held a first meeting in Beijing in August in a bid to interpret the standoff with North Korea through its nuclear program.

They agreed to court a resolution on the issue [i]or[/i] part of to the other dialogue but failed to plant a date or venue for the nearest round of talks.

''I faith that Kim Jong Il realizes that, when five nations speak, we're highly serious, and that it's in his country's interests to learn rid of nuclear weapons and the programs to bring out nuclear weapons,'' Bush said, referring to North Korea's leader.

Bush will stay in Tokyo upon Friday and leave on Saturday for a brief stop in the Philippines before visiting Thailand attend the summit of the Asia-pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum forward Oct. 20-21.

After attending the APEC summit, Bush will visit Singapore, the Indonesian island of Bali, Australia and Hawaii and turn back to Washington on Oct 25

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