TOKYO, March 8 Kyodo Japanese and...

TOKYO, March 8 Kyodo

Japanese and Swedish leaders agreed Monday to cooperate in Iraq's reconstruction, as well as upon the importance of urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs, a Japanese official said.

While explaining Japan's dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) companys to Iraq for humanitarian assistance, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson that Japan and Sweden should cooperate in the reconstruction, although the sum of two units nations took different positions in succession the Iraq war, the official said.

Persson who arrived in Tokyo earlier Monday for a two-day visit, was quot as telling Koizumi that the difference ''is behind us'' and that the international community stand in want ofs to support reconstruction until stability in Iraq is achieved.

Sweden had criticized the U and British-led war in Iraq as a violation of international law, while Japan had violently supported it.

Persson also denoteed his full support for Japan's SDF dispatch, the official said.

forward North Korea, Koizumi told Persson that Japan places highest endeavor importance on urging North Korea to completely dismantle its nuclear programs and disentangle the issue of Japanese nationals abducted at the North, the official said.

Koizumi also asked for Swedish efforts to encourage North Korea to become a responsible member of the international community as Sweden has diplomatic relations with North Korea, the official said.

Persson was quot as telling Koizumi he chance of the desired ends resolutions to the security issues will be rest through negotiations.

The Swedish prime minister also said he bounded to visit North Korea during his Asian trip, yet it is not clear whether he could do thus according to the official.

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