Japan, S. Korea, U.S. to Warn N. Korea against Provocative Acts

Tokyo, Dec. 6 (Jiji Press)--Japan, South Korea and the United
States are expected to urge North Korea not to repeat provocative acts, such
as bombardments and nuclear tests, in a joint statement to be issued at
their foreign ministers' meeting in Washington Monday, diplomatic sources
said.
The three countries are also expected to strengthen their call on
China to rein in the North.
Washington proposed holding the three-way meeting to ease tensions
on the Korean Peninsula following the North's deadly shelling of a South
Korean island near a disputed border on Nov. 23 and its disclosure of a new
uranium enrichment facility earlier in the month.
By so doing, Pyongyang is believed to have tried to resume its
bilateral talks with the United States, as well as six-party talks on its
denuclearization.
Monday's meeting brings together Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji
Maehara, South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sung Hwan and
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The ministers will criticize the North Korean shelling in which two
South Korean marines and two civilians were killed.
The Japanese and U.S. officials will reconfirm their countries'
support to the South.
The three ministers will demand that Pyongyang take specific steps
toward its denuclearization while observing U.N. Security Council
resolutions.
On Nov. 28, meanwhile, China, the chair of the six-party talks,
proposed holding an emergency meeting of top envoys from the six countries,
also including Russia.
But Tokyo, Washington and Seoul have insisted that Pyongyang should
first make a tangible progress toward denuclearization.
Maehara expressed his willingness to discuss with his U.S. and
South Korean counterparts on conditions for the restart of the six-party
talks. "We haven't rejected the Chinese proposal," he said.
Maehara is expected to suggest that the restart of the six-party
talks could be possible if the North accepts inspections by the
International Atomic Energy Agency or allow its uranium enrichment program
to be added to the talks' agenda.
END


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