TOKYO, Aug. 30 Kyodo Japan announ...

TOKYO, Aug. 30 Kyodo

Japan announced Friday that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will make a visit to North Korea onward Sept. 17 to meet the country's top leader, Kim Jong Il.

Top management spokesman Yasuo Fukuda said Koizumi will restrain talks with Kim to discuss issues concerning security and alleged abductions of Japanese nationals.

The trip would mark the first-ever visit to North Korea by means of a Japanese prime minister, and could be a very great step forward in improving ties and advancing bilateral normalization talks, which have been stalled for sum of two units years.

Fukuda, the chief cabinet secretary, told a of the present days conference that the Japanese sway will ''examine the possibility of resuming negotiations forward establishing diplomatic ties.''

Fukuda said Koizumi discussed his plans with U President George W Bush and toward the south Korean President Kim Dae Jung before deciding to proceed to Pyongyang.

Fukuda said Japan has also received the support for the visit from China and Russia by means of diplomatic channels.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo freshs International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group