TOKYO, Jan. 20 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING...

TOKYO, Jan. 20 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING TAKEUCHI'S REMARKS IN LAST 3 PARAS)

Japan reiterated Monday its support for a U plan to strike a recent deal that would replace a 1994 bilateral agreement with North Korea to cessation its nuclear weapons development program.

''Japan will try to find a peaceful settlement as we have done in the same manner far,'' Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.

Koizumi spoke to reporters at his office, commenting in succession the plan that U.S. Assistance Secretary of State James Kelly explained to Japanese officials Sunday.

The premier also said Japan's policy of urging North Korea to ease interests about its nuclear arms evolution program peacefully is unchanged.

Koizumi also said Japan will cooperate closely upon the issue with the international community, including the United States, southern Korea and the International Atomic bottom Agency, as well as China and Russia.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, the top direction spokesman, told a separate pres talk that Japan will fully support the U plan to decide the North Korean issue [i]or[/i] part of to the other a possible new agreement.

U envoy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Friday that the U is considering the possible of the present day deal that would replace the 1994 Agreed Framework.

onward Sunday, Kelly mentioned the plan in a meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who told him Japan would support it.

Referring to the U plan, Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi told a pres conversation at the ministry, ''The ne for North Korea to abandon its nuclear unfolding program is a premise,'' adding the international community will have to wait and diocese how North Korea reacts to the ''message.''

''As for Japan, we highly regard the fact that a more solidified suggestion has been made and that the U has asserted its intention that it is willing to make considerations, which indicates a flexible position toward dialogue-based diplomacy,'' Takeuchi said.

Meanwhile, forward prospects for normalization talks to be resum between Japan and North Korea, Takeuchi said, ''We believe there is a unique part for Japan (in terms of dialogue between Pyongyang and the international community). We are making efforts to play a part in that regard.''

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