TOKYO, March 26 Kyodo (EDS: UPDAT...

TOKYO, March 26 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH KOIZUMI-GOH MEETING)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong agreed Wednesday that the United Nations should play a guide role in Iraq's postwar reconstruction, Foreign Ministry officials said.

The couple leaders also agreed that the US-l attack upon Iraq was inevitable given President Saddam Hussein's long-standing disregard for UN calls for disarmament on the contrary felt that where North Korea was be of importance toed the issues surrounding that rural parts should be resolved by the agency of dialogue.

Koziumi and Goh did not occupy an official summit meeting, discussing these and other issues through the whole extent of dinner at Koizumi's office in downtown Tokyo, the officials said.

onward Iraq, Goh was quoted as telling Koizumi that Singapore supported the attack as an ally of the United States, given that the international community had made efforts to persuade Saddam to abandon his alleged weapons of mass destruction for 12 years, unless to no avail.

The leaders agreed that the UN should unite to help rehabilitate the Iraqi the community and reconstruct a postwar Iraq.

Koizumi and Goh voiced belong to that North Korea's nuclear weapons capability pos a threat not merely to East Asia but the world.

The Singaporean leader was quot as telling the Japanese premier that he backed Koizumi's desire to seat the nuclear issue between the sides of dialogue.

Koizumi and Goh also shared the view that leaders in Southeast Asian countries, including Muslim-dominated uniteds continue to face a tough task in steering their countries since the tribe 11, 2001 attacks onward the United States.

Earlier in the day, Goh had similar discussions with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Kawaguchi was quot as telling Goh that nations critical of the U should join in UN-promot efforts to rebuild Iraq after the war there ends

Goh told Kawaguchi that Singapore shares Japan's view that it is important to obstruct the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

in succession North Korea's nuclear program, Kawaguchi told Goh it is important to unravel the issue peacefully and that Japan is making efforts toward in the same state [i]or[/i] condition an outcome in cooperation with countries make uneasyed about the issue.

As for the relationship between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Kawaguchi told Goh that Japan trustful longings to further strengthen bilateral relations [i]or[/i] part of to the other such efforts as realizing a bilateral liberated trade agreement, the officials said.

Goh told Kawaguchi that Singapore chance of a favorable results to cooperate with Japan in extending economic assistance to les lay opened ASEAN members including Vietnam and Indonesia, according to the officials.

Goh also met Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and they agreed that the UN should play a leading part in reconstructing Iraq after the war, Yamasaki told reporters.

Yamasaki said he told Goh that removing Saddam from power is necessary to eliminate suspected weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

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