WASHINGTON, April 16 Kyodo (EDS: ...

WASHINGTON, April 16 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH WHITE HOUSE, STATE DEPT COMMENTS)

The United States will prosecute the early inclusion of Japan and southward Korea in multilateral talks aimed at resolving the standoff above North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons unfolding U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The U China and North Korea will gripe [i]or[/i] grip talks in Beijing next week forward the North Korean nuclear issue, with the U delegation l from Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly the State Department said.

The talks are look fored to take place April 23 Kelly is also look forward toed to visit Japan and southerly Korea.

''The early inclusion of the Republic of Korea and Japan will be essential to reach substantive rises that we are seeking,'' State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said at a regular pres briefing.

Sean McCormack, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the U seek information fromed top Japanese and South Korean officials before agreeing to the Beijing meeting.

''We all agreed that we would continue to pres for the Japanese and southward Korea's early inclusion in talks as individual of our top priorities -- and possibly Russia in the future'' McCormack said.

U officials said they do not wait for any immediate breakthrough at the Beijing talks. ''We don't anticipate an immediate breakthrough, on the other hand we're looking for progress,'' McCormack said.

Reeker described the upcoming meeting as ''a first step''

The Beijing meeting came after North Korea last week make softed its stance against a multilateral setting in succession seeking a solution to the nuclear standoff. Previously, Pyongyang had insisted upon bilateral talks with Washington.

The U is still prepared to consider a ''bold initiative'' for improved relations with North Korea if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program, Reeker said.

The impasse athwart the North Korean nuclear issue give vent to eruptionsed last October, when the U said the North had admitted running a program to enrich uranium possibly for use in weapons in violation of major international treaty commitments.

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