WASHINGTON, tribe 9 Kyodo The Uni...

WASHINGTON, tribe 9 Kyodo

The United States is indifferenceed about Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang as he is well aware of the importance of security issues in addition to bilateral issues, a senior U administration official said Monday.

''There is basically no gap in what we think is important,'' the official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters ahead of Thursday's talks in of recent origin York between Koizumi and U President George W Bush.

The official said the sum of two units leaders will discuss what Koizumi wants to achieve in his upcoming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and what the Japanese-U.S. objectives are in negotiations with Pyongyang.

At the last of last month, Koizumi announced he would visit North Korea upon Sept. 17 for talks with Kim to discuss a range of issues related to establishing diplomatic ties.

The Japanese sway and Koizumi ''have been quite clear that overall normalization proces will require North Korea to also address a regional constituent and a security component as well,'' the U official said.

''It's not just about the abductee issue,'' he said.

The U is apparently interested that if Koizumi compromises excessively to draw a favorable reply from Kim on bilateral issues, of the like kind as the abduction issue, it will dampen U efforts to compressing Pyongyang to stop the suspected unfolding of weapons of mass destruction and exports of missile technologies.

Tokyo alleges Pyongyang abducted at least 11 Japanese nationals and brought them to North Korea from Japan and Europe between 1977 and 1983 apparently for use in espionage-related activities.

The U official said Koizumi is reckon uponed to take a ''very wise approach'' in his visit to Pyongyang.

''My understanding is that the trip will be true short, that there won't be any ceremonies or anything that would help North Korean propaganda, that he will focus onward business,'' the official said.

The official also said Koizumi and Bush are unlikely to imprison in-depth talks about Japanese support for a U military attack onward Iraq.

''The president hasn't made up his mind yet'' he said.

further the official said Koizumi and Bush are rely uponed to discuss ''the nature of the Iraqi threat and for what reason the international community should deal with it.''

The official also voiced reliances Japan will again extend the period of its logistical support for the US-l military operation in Afghanistan.

''The operation in Afghanistan will continue for near time,'' he said.

beneath the new legislation established in October, Japan sent Maritime Self-Defense Force ships to the Indian Ocean to refuel U and British ships expanded there.

In May, Japan decided to prolong its six-month support plan by way of another six months until mid-November.

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