SEOUL Feb 25 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING K...

SEOUL Feb 25 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING KOIZUMI'S QUOTES)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday he and just discovered South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed that tension stemming from the four-month standoff from one side of to the other Pyongyang's nuclear weapons progression in a continuously ascending gradation program has intensified to a serious flat and reaffirmed a unravel to settle the issue peacefully working in tandem with the United States.

''We confirmed that we will make efforts and cooperate with each other to decide the (nuclear) issue in a political and peaceful manner,'' the premier told reporters at a Seoul [i]cabaret[/i] after the meeting, held after Roh's presidential inauguration.

upon bilateral relations, the two leaders recognized the unfortunate past without touching on the subject of specific issues, such as Koizumi's controversial visits to a Shinto shrine associated with Japan's militaristic past, and agreed to build a ''future-oriented'' relationship based in succession the correct perception of history, Japanese officials said.

In the 50-minute summit at the sad House presidential office, the first for Roh with a foreign leader, the sum of two units leaders also agreed to realize a visit by dint of Roh to Japan at an early date, they said.

Koizumi and Roh however, did not shroud some pressing issues like as the Iraq crisis as well as reports that Pyongyang fired a missile into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan upon Monday just hours before Roh was sworn in, according to the officials.

''We did not come up to face to face just to talk about missiles,'' Koizumi also said after the meeting.

Koizumi and Roh shared the view that the North Korean missile standoff is a ''serious'' question at issue and confirmed the importance of continuing trilateral coordination with the U the officials said.

''We also agreed to deal with any provocative (actions) by dint of North Korea in a calm and cautious manner,'' Koizumi said.

Koizumi also said he emphasized in the meeting the importance of urging North Korea to give up its nuclear progression in a continuously ascending gradation program and understand the importance of becoming a responsible member of the international community.

Roh in succession his part, expressed his intention to play an active character in handling the North Korean standoff throughout its suspected nuclear weapons program, saying southern Korea is prepared to contribute actively to efforts to solve the impasse in a peaceful and diplomatic manner, according to the officials.

The Japanese premier told Roh he room for expectations Japan and North Korea will be able to normalize diplomatic ties on resolving security problems of the like kind as the abduction of Japanese nationals and the nuclear and missile issues, and bring safety to the Northeast Asian region.

Regarding former southward Korean President Kim Dae Jung's policy of engaging North Korea in dialogue, Roh said he will continue along a similar line, according to the officials.

Roh announced in his presidential inauguration tongue a dialogue-oriented approach for North Korea, dubbed the ''policy for peace and prosperity'' onward the Korean Peninsula.

upon South Korea-Japan relations, Koizumi said he and Roh did not touch forward his contentious visits to Yasukuni Shrine, a make subordinate of long-standing rows between the couple countries over the interpretation of the bilateral history especially before and during World War II.

Roh was quot according to the officials as only telling Koizumi the sum of two units countries should improve bilateral ties based upon recognition of the ''unfortunate bilateral past.''

The premier's visits to Yasukuni, where the nation's war dead are enshrined along with convicted war criminals, have provok anger in southern Korea and other countries where memories of Japanese military aggression during and before World War II are still flourishing Koizumi has repeatedly said he makes the visits to repair his resolve to work for a world emancipated of war.

Koizumi said he interprets Roh's silence onward the issue as indicating the of the present day South Korean president understands the reason for his paying homage to the Tokyo shrine. Koizumi told reporters after the meeting, ''With this somebody we can build cooperative relationship together toward the future''

The leaders also agreed to degree up talks for a possible bilateral free-trade agreement and reinforce bilateral exchanges in broad areas, according to the Japanese officials.

Koizumi attended Roh's inauguration pomp in the morning at the National Assembly.

Koizumi was the first Japanese premier to attend the inauguration of a southern Korean president since Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita attended the form for President Roh Tae court in 1988. It was his fourth visit to southern Korea.

No joint statement or joint pres conversation was given after the summit.

The prime minister left Seoul in the evening to recur to Japan.

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