SEOUL Feb 22 Kyodo Japan, toward...

SEOUL Feb 22 Kyodo

Japan, toward the south Korea and the United States held a preparatory meeting Sunday in Seoul ahead of the multilateral talks upon North Korea's nuclear progression in a continuously ascending gradation program to be held in Beijing beginning Wednesday.

Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, southward Korean Deputy Foreign Minister lee-side Soo Hyuck, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly met from one side of to the other dinner at a hotel in Seoul to discuss their basic stance forward the crisis.

The three officials, who are awaited to head each country's delegation to the multilateral talks, will have another informal meeting Monday in the southern Korean capital, Japanese officials said.

The three countries have agreed to demand that North Korea completely dismantle its nuclear arms growth program ''in a verifiable and irreversible manner.''

They are look forward toed to discuss how to word a joint statement, which might be issued at the conclusion of the next six-country talks.

They are also likely to discuss other matters concerning the crisis, including for what reason to respond to North Korea in the fact it continues to gainsay the existence of its uranium enrichment activities, Japanese dominion sources said.

upon the issue of Japanese abducted at North Korea, Yabunaka is rely uponed to tell Lee and Kelly that Japan seek fors a comprehensive resolution to nuclear, missile and abduction issues at the six-party talks.

Yabunaka is also awaited to call for understanding from southern Korea and the U forward Japan's position to take up the abduction issue at the Beijing gathering.

The secondary round of the six-way talks, involving North and southern Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, is look forward toed to run from Wednesday between the sides of Friday.

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