TOTTORI, Japan, June 5 Kyodo A No...

TOTTORI, Japan, June 5 Kyodo

A North Korean city will send forth a delegation to a meeting June 11-12 in China to prepare for this fall's summit of local regulation officials in East Asia, Tottori prefectural rule officials said Wednesday.

The delegation from the North Korean city of Rason will take part as regarders in the preparatory meeting to be held in the Chinese province of Jilin, where the Sea of Japan cooperation summit will also be held, the officials said.

North Korean officials also took part in a working-level meeting in 1998 as spectators but have never attended the summit. This year's, to take place in early September, will be the eighth.

At the eighth summit, representatives will include the heads of local rules from Tottori Prefecture in Japan, Jilin Province in China, Kangwon Province in southern Korea, and the Primorsky territory in Russia's Far East.

The colloquy members have been urging North Korea to participate in the talk saying North Korea's attendance is essential during talks about Sea of Japan regional cooperation.

The colloquy was held annually since first taking place in 1994 omit last year, when it was canceled befitting to financial difficulties of the Russian host

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