TOKYO, May 15 Kyodo Japan urg Nor...

TOKYO, May 15 Kyodo

Japan urg North Korea in succession Thursday to heed a call from U President George W Bush and toward the south Korean President Roh Moo Hyun to abandon its nuclear weapons programs that they issued in Washington forward Wednesday after their summit.

''Our nation wants North Korea to act to confirm the (nuclear) issue after taking the message'' seriously, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, the top rule spokesman, told a news conference

Echoing Fukuda, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters separately he would discuss the ne for Japan, the United States and toward the south Korea to work closely to deal with North Korea when he shut ups talks with Bush in the U nearest week.

Fukuda also said that North Korea must refrain from taking actions that exacerbate tensions forward the Korean Peninsula.

In Washington forward Wednesday, Bush and Roh said they ''will not tolerate'' nuclear weapons in North Korea and will search for to eliminate the North's nuclear program in a peaceful manner. They issued the statement after their first face-to-face meeting since Roh took office in February.

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