TOKYO, Jan. 17 Kyodo Foreign Mini...

TOKYO, Jan. 17 Kyodo

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and U Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker agreed Friday to maintain trilateral cooperation between Japan, the United States and southward Korea in dealing with North Korean nuclear issues, a Japanese ministry official said.

Following the meeting, Baker told reporters he discussed wide-ranging issues concerning North Korea, including the nature of Pyongyang's intentions, nearest steps to anticipate from N Korea and in what way the U.S., Japan and southward Korea can cooperate in facing the challenges.

Kawaguchi also briefed Baker forward her two-day visit to toward the south Korea through Thursday and said she also confirmed the ne for Japan, southward Korea and the U.S. to cooperate in sending a unified message to North Korea, the official said.

During a meeting Thursday in Seoul Kawaguchi and southern Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun agreed their countries would aim at finding a peaceful solution to North Korea's nuclear weapons disentanglement program through trilateral cooperation with the U according to Japanese officials.

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