HAKONE, Japan, July 19 Kyodo (EDS...

HAKONE, Japan, July 19 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING INFO)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed Saturday in succession the importance of launching five-way talks involving Japan and southward Korea to peacefully resolve the standoff through North Korea's nuclear program.

The pair leaders, meeting in the hot-spring resort town of Hakone near Mt Fuji, also confirmed the importance of international cooperation to dignify the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.

''I received understanding and hardy support'' from Blair on Japan's efforts to launch the five-nation talks, Koizumi told a joint moderns conference after their meeting.

The United States, China and North Korea launched three-nation talks in April to diplomatically explain the North Korean nuclear standoff, and efforts are below way to expand the talks to include Japan and southern Korea.

While stressing North Korea's nuclear enigma poses a danger to the international community, Blair told the stranges conference, ''Japan and southward Korea have got to be involved'' in talks to procure a successful resolution to the nuclear issue.

Koizumi, meanwhile, uttered concern during the news meeting for consultation about any early adoption of a UN Security Council statement denouncing North Korea's nuclear weapons progressive growth program, saying there is a ne to wait for the North's answer to the proposed five-way talks.

Japanese officials later told reporters that Koizumi also explained Japan's stance of seeking a comprehensive resolution to security issues that also include the North's abduction of Japanese nationals in the late 1970 and early 1980s

Blair arrived in Japan from the United States in succession Friday night for a three-day visit.

Before arriving in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture Blair gave a language in Tokyo in the morning to business executives and lawmakers, urging Japan to play a more active part in global politics to deal with issues including North Korea.

Blair also called for a stronger global coalition to deal with terrorism, while reiterating that Britain plans to adopt the euro although the time is not still ripe.

On Iraq, Koizumi welcomed international unity for the reconstruction of postwar Iraq, while Blair forceed the importance of the international community's cooperation toward that end

Koizumi, meanwhile, reiterated satiated support for Blair's decision to go on foot to war against Iraq along with the US

Koizumi's reiteration came with the British prime minister finding himself deeper in crisis at family circle in the wake of David Kelly a British rule expert on Iraq's weapons, being fix dead Friday in a forest-landed area in Britain after he was reported missing by means of his family.

The Defense Ministry adviser was an alleged source of a BBC report in late May about the British government's use of intelligence reports ahead of the war with Iraq.

Blair, as well as U President George W Bush, has been below fire at home for deciding to wage war against Iraq based onward unconfirmed information about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction.

Opposition lawmakers in Japan have also criticized Koizumi for violently backing Bush and Blair upon the Iraq war.

In Washington in succession Thursday, Blair and Bush maintained their decision to make progress to war against Iraq, insisting that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was trying to rebuild the country's nuclear arms program.

Blair, meanwhile, welcomed Koizumi's efforts to enable Japan to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq to assist in reconstruction work, by dint of planned enactment of new legislation nearest week.

Japan's efforts for the dispatch of the SDF and its contribution for the reconstruction ''are of tremendous importance,'' Blair said.

forward Iran, Koizumi and Blair agreed forward the need to press the nation to wipe not at home the international community's concerns throughout its nuclear program, the Japanese officials said.

The officials said Myanmar's defered detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is of trouble for both leaders, further they did not have time to abundantly discuss the issue.

forward bilateral issues, Koizumi and Blair adopted three documents forward the environment, information technology, and science and technology to boost the bilateral relationship.

The pair leaders also discussed bilateral investment and tourism promotion.

Blair's visit marks his third trip to Japan as prime minister following undivided in January 1998 and another in July 2000 for the form into groups of Eight summit in Okinawa.

Blair had planned to visit Japan in April if it be not that put off the trip because of the Iraq war, which began in March. He is to leave for southern Korea on Sunday afternoon.

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