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Japan, ROK vows to help resume nuclear talks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-16 22:25

TOKYO - Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday pledged concerted efforts to resume the stalled six-party talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular.

The two nations made the pledge during a meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan, Kyodo News reported.

Related readings:  Russia: Chance to resume six-party talks still exists  Restraint of parties in Korean nuke talks urged  DPRK lashes out as Japan extends sanctions  DPRK to restart nuclear reactor  US urges DPRK not to quit talks  Russia calls on DPRK to return to negotiating table

Nakasone said that Japan, the ROK and the United States need to maintain close contact and consultation to seek the early resumption of the six-party talks.

The two ministers agreed that as chair of the talks, China could play a key role to that end.

Yu, for his part, said that ROK will offer "every possible support" for Japan while showing its understanding of Japan's position on the abduction issue.

Also on Thursday, China urged "calmness and restraint" from the six parties in the talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) asked international inspectors to leave the country.

"We expect all sides to take a far-sighted view of the big picture, exercise calmness and restraint and properly address related issues to ensure the six-party process and safeguard peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular briefing.

The six-party talks involve China, the ROK, the DPRK, Japan, Russia and the United States.