TOKYO, Jan. 20 Kyodo Foreign Mini...

TOKYO, Jan. 20 Kyodo

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer agreed in a telephone conversation Monday that Japan and Australia will continue to cooperate to liquefy the North Korean nuclear issue.

Downer briefed Kawaguchi in succession exchanges between Australian and North Korean officials last week in Pyongyang, Japanese ministry officials said.

An Australian delegation headed by dint of Murray McLean, first assistant secretary at the North Asia Division in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, visited Pyongyang from last Tuesday between the walls of Saturday, they said.

Downer told Kawaguchi that the Australian officials emphasized at meetings in Pyongyang that the international community is touched about North Korea's nuclear increase program and that North Korea should take stairs to resolve the issue, according to the officials.

Kawaguchi briefed Downer onward her recent exchanges with southerly Korean leaders on the North Korean issue during her visit to toward the south Korea last week, as well as forward her meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly in Tokyo forward Sunday, the officials said.

During her meeting with Kelly forward Sunday, Kawaguchi expressed support for a comprehensive deal the United States is considering with North Korea, including a written assurance that it will not invade that rural parts a Foreign Ministry official said.

Kawaguchi and toward the south Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun agreed onward Thursday in Seoul that their countries would aim at finding a peaceful solution to North Korea's nuclear unravelling program through trilateral cooperation with the U Japanese officials said.

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