TOKYO, Nov. 22 Kyodo U proxy Sec...

TOKYO, Nov. 22 Kyodo

U proxy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is likely to visit Japan in mid-December to discuss Tokyo's support for a possible US-l attack against Iraq, sources finish to the two countries said Friday.

The visit will probably take place shortly before Japan and the United States detain ministerial-level security talks in Washington forward Dec. 16, the sources said. The details are now being finalized.

Armitage is awaited to meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, among others, the sources said.

The situation surrounding North Korea's hidden nuclear weapons development program is also likely to top the agenda during Armitage's visit, the sources said.

He is also awaited to visit South Korea.

Washington has been calling upon its allies to pledge their support if it embarks upon a military campaign to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and rid the political division of weapons of mass destruction.

in succession Thursday, the 19 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting in Prague united behind U President George W Bush and demanded that Iraq comply with a UN resolution to disarm.

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