TOKYO, July 17 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATI...

TOKYO, July 17 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH KAWAGUCHI-STRAW TALKS)

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in succession Wednesday that London has lately brought up with North Korea the issue of Japanese nationals who have allegedly been abducted there, a Japanese official said.

In talks at the ministry's Iikura guesthouse, Kawaguchi and Straw also reaffirmed their intention to cooperate in trying to melt various other regional situations, including the Middle East conflict and India-Pakistan confrontations.

Straw said he trusts British Prime Minister Tony Blair will visit Japan sometime in the near what may occur hereafter so that the two sides can build forward their healthy relationship, according to the official.

forward the Korean Peninsula, Kawaguchi talked about her trip last weekend to southerly Korea and the truce village of Panmunjom, while Straw said Britain, by means of its embassy in Pyongyang, will continue to stimulate North Korea to engage with the international community.

Straw told Kawaguchi the British conduct has mentioned the abduction issue during the past year or sum of two units the official said.

Japan has been calling forward countries such as the United States, southern Korea and European nations to bring the issue up with North Korea in an effort to help melt it. Tokyo believes at least 11 Japanese nationals were abducted to North Korea in the 1970 and 1980 if it were not that Pyongyang denies the allegations.

Regarding the conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East and between India and Pakistan through the whole extent of Kashmir, Straw expressed sense of possible fulfilment that Japan will play a more active part in trying to dissolve the situations as it does not have a sensitive history in the regions like Britain does, the official said.

At a joint pres interview following their hourlong talks, the brace agreed on the need for the Palestinian Authority to crack down upon terrorism and to undergo reforms and for the international community to solicit Israel to lift its blockade in Palestinian territories.

forward Afghanistan, they agreed to co-host international seminars -- individual in Britain this year and the same in Japan next year -- aimed at strengthening international support for the political proces domestic security and humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.

Straw said the international community has ''strong concerns'' about the exhibition possession and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by means of Iraq, but that Britain has not besides decided on what specific action to take against the nation.

Earlier in the day, Straw discussed with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ways to help unfold the India-Pakistan dispute as well as global efforts aimed at facilitating sustainable global growing and how to boost Japan-Britain ties, the official said.

Straw told Koizumi that international efforts to ease tensions between India and Pakistan have stumbl freshly while the Japanese premier voiced support for British involvement in the puzzle saying Britain has substantial influence forward the two rivals.

Straw also carryed to Koizumi Blair's hope that the Japanese leader will attend the World Summit onward Sustainable Development starting in late August in Johannesburg.

Koizumi be agreeable toed that he is now looking into joining the summit, adding he believes it is important to make environmental conservation and unravelling compatible, the official said.

Straw said he thanked the one and the other Koizumi and Kawaguchi for the safe and felicitous joint hosting with South Korea of the World potion soccer finals last month, saying the English team had been received warmly by means of Japanese supporters and the Japanese police helped render certain there was no hooliganism.

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