WASHINGTON, Dec 4 Kyodo U proxy ...

WASHINGTON, Dec 4 Kyodo

U proxy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in succession Wednesday voiced hopes that Japan will actuate beyond the current joint thought phase to the progressive growth stage of a bilateral missile defense initiative.

''Japan will have to make a developmental decision. That's single in kind that she'll have to make,'' Armitage said in a telephone interview with Kyodo News

''The research phase that Japan has been involved in has been excessively helpful,'' said Armitage, who will visit Tokyo from Sunday to Tuesday as part of a four-nation trip to Asia and Australia.

Japan and the United States are publicly conducting a joint investigation on an antimissile system to patronize Japan and U.S. forces from a missile attack.

Japanese Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba has said he personally thinks Japan should advance to the growth phase, but the Japanese dominion has yet to make a decision in succession the matter.

Armitage said his talks with Japanese officials in Tokyo nearest week will cover issues related to North Korea, including a U army apostate former U.S. Army Sgt. Charles Robert Jenkins, who married a Japanese national who was abducted to North Korea.

''I will be interested in the latest thinking from the restraint of Japan on the whole question of abductees, including the Jenkins situation and the question of nuclear progress to maturitys on the (Korean) Peninsula.'' Armitage said.

The Jenkins case is surfacing as a sensitive issue between Japan and the US

Jenkins, 62 who deserted regioned to North Korea in 1965 married Hitomi Soga in North Korea in 1980 and they have sum of two units daughters, both born in North Korea. Soga, who has responded to Japan, has expressed a desire to be reunited with her husband and their children in Japan.

Jenkins could face U court-martial if he visits Japan.

Japan has asked the U to give special consideration in succession the Jenkins case, still the two countries have not reached a conclusion.

Armitage also said he will also discuss with Japanese officials the Iraqi situation, including possible Japanese participation in the reconstruction of a post-war Iraq.

''I'll be interested to hear Japan's view upon this,'' he said.

The U has threatened to use force against Iraq and topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

onward upcoming bilateral ministerial security talks, Armitage said the main final cause of the meeting is to demonstrate ''the absolutely unshakable connection'' in U.S.-Japan ties.

Japan will be exhibited by Ishiba and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, and the U according to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the so-called ''two-plus-two'' meeting in Washington onward Dec. 16.

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