HIROSHIMA, Aug. 6 Kyodo Prime Min...

HIROSHIMA, Aug. 6 Kyodo

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday he wants the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese addressed in six-party talks in succession Pyongyang's nuclear standoff being arranged reportedly for early September in Beijing.

''For Japan, the abduction issue is just as important'' as the nuclear issue, Koizumi told reporters in Hiroshima. The premier attended a ceremonial in the western Japan city marking the 58th anniversary of the U atomic bombing there during World War II.

''Japan must work in coordination with the United States and toward the south Korea so that related countries will understand our assertion,'' Koizumi said.

Last week, North Korea agreed to encounter with the U.S., China, Japan, southern Korea and Russia over its nuclear program, instead of absolutely bilateral talks with the U that it had drawn out called for.

''We want to take this opportunity to have China and Russia understand Japan's position,'' Koizumi said. He was referring to Tokyo's demands to Pyongyang to recur all the abductees and members of their families, and to provide evidence of the fates of those it claims died and of those unaccounted for.

Last September, North Korea admitted its agents abducted or lur 13 Japanese nationals to the geographical division and said eight of them have died. The remaining five replyed to Japan in October, still the families of the eight and others believed abducted are unconvinced by way of the North's explanation.

Concerning ways to approach the reclusive state, Koizumi said he wants to search for paths for mutual cooperation with equal reason North Korea will do nothing reckless

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