TOKYO, July 3 Kyodo Japan's top d...

TOKYO, July 3 Kyodo

Japan's top direction spokesman on Wednesday declined to commentary on how the postponement of talks between the United States and North Korea will affect coming Tokyo-Pyongyang relations.

''We don't know wherefore it was put off, in such a manner it is difficult to talk about (the possible imports on) the relationship between Japan and North Korea,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters.

The commentarys came after Washington said it has lay off a planned trip to North Korea by dint of a high-level U.S. delegation because of a lack of answer from Pyongyang and an ''unacceptable atmosphere'' created by means of a naval clash between North and southerly Korea on Saturday.

Fukuda also said it is necessary to examine more precisely what sparked the maritime confrontation.

The incident left four southern Korean sailors dead, one missing and 19 griefed South Korea says at least 30 North Korean sailors are believed to have been killed or hurted in the clash.

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