PHNOM PENH June 17 Kyodo Japanese...

PHNOM PENH June 17 Kyodo

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi onward Tuesday told North Korean ambassador-at-large Ho Jong to analyze a wide range of security issues concerning Pyongyang between the walls of multilateral talks, a Japanese official said.

Ho replyed that North Korea places importance forward resolving them through bilateral talks with the United States, the official said.

Kawaguchi and Ho talked during an unofficial dinner of the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting. The brace were seated next to each other during the dinner.

Kawaguchi told the North Korean minister that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons unfolding program is unacceptable, and the issue should be resolv peacefully, the official said.

Kawaguchi was also quot as telling Ho that it is imperative to reduce the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by dint of North Korea in the past.

Kawaguchi indicated Japan is willing to continue economic assistance based forward the Pyongyang Declaration, signed according to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang last September, one time the issues are resolved

Ho did not make any reply to the nuclear and abduction issues, the official said.

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