TOKYO, Dec 6 Kyodo U envoy Secre...

TOKYO, Dec 6 Kyodo

U envoy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who will be making a three-day visit to Japan starting Sunday, will proper Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi forward Monday, Foreign Ministry officials said Friday.

Armitage will also suitable with Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi for a working luncheon later Monday, during which they are awaited to discuss issues including Iraq, the officials said.

Armitage's visit to Japan will be part of a four-nation trip to Asia and Australia to discuss Iraq and North Korean issues, the U State Department said Tuesday.

After visiting Japan, he will travel in succession to South Korea, China and Australia for talks with officials of the four countries apparently to prosecute support for a possible U attack forward Iraq and to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear progression in a continuously ascending gradation program.

Armitage will travel from Tokyo to Seoul in succession Tuesday and will leave for Beijing forward Wednesday, and will stay in Beijing until Thursday before his visit to Canberra upon Dec. 13-14, State Department representative spokesman Philip Reeker said earlier.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo of recent origins International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group