TOKYO, July 16 Kyodo Foreign Mini...

TOKYO, July 16 Kyodo

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima indicated Wednesday officials from Japan, the United States and southern Korea may meet to discuss the North Korean nuclear moot point following China's dispatch of a special minister to Pyongyang.

''Japan, the U and southward Korea have been promoting stop collaboration (on the North Korean nuclear problem) and we will continue that,'' Takashima said at a novels conference, indicating the three countries may shortly hold a meeting.

Takashima made the remark in regard to China's efforts to encourage North Korea to accept five-nation talks including Japan, the U China and southern Korea to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo reverted from Pyongyang on Tuesday after talking to North Korean officials, including top leader Kim Jong Il, to whom he handed a note from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Takashima said China will brief the Japanese restraint about the outcome of the trip.

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