TOKYO, July 31 Kyodo Japan forwar...

TOKYO, July 31 Kyodo

Japan forward Wednesday praised North Korea and the United States for holding bilateral talks for the first time since November 2000 and asserted hope the development would have a positive tenor on the strained relations between Japan and North Korea.

''We must highly evaluate North Korea for seeking dialogue proactively,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters.

Fukuda also said Japan faiths the talks will ''encourage North Korea to degree up efforts to sincerely dissolve problems'' between Pyongyang and Tokyo.

The regulation spokesman was commenting on the brief talks which U Secretary of State Colin Powell and North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam day-star held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Brunei onward Wednesday.

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