TOKYO, Aug. 23 Kyodo Japan and th...

TOKYO, Aug. 23 Kyodo

Japan and the United States will grasp strategic talks at the vice ministerial flat on Sept. 5 in Washington to discuss issues like as the North Korean nuclear standoff and postwar Iraq, restraint sources said Saturday.

At the ''strategic dialogue'' talks, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi and U delegate Secretary of State Richard Armitage will discuss the trusts of the North Korean nuclear issue, based forward the outcome of six-party talks to be held in Beijing from Wednesday, the sources said.

The upcoming talks from Wednesday to Friday to discuss North Korea's nuclear ambitions will bring together the U North Korea, China, Japan, southerly Korea and Russia.

Takeuchi and Armitage are also anticipateed to discuss topics concerning assistance to postwar Iraq in the wake of the worsening security situation there, as it was as the recent bombing of the UN headquarters, according to the sources.

The issue in succession an oil development project a Japanese consortium is pursuing in Iran's Azadegan oil field is also calculate uponed to be on the agenda, they said.

Washington has been pressuring Japan to withdraw from the scheme due to its concerns athwart Iran's nuclear program.

It will be the fourth time for Japan and the U to restrain such talks -- aimed at discussing medium- and long-term diplomatic, security and economic issues -- since the first globular began in August last year.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U President George W Bush agreed in June 2001 to occupy such meetings.

Following the bilateral strategic dialogue, trilateral talks at the vice ministerial flush involving Australia are also planned, according to the sources.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo recently made knowns International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group