Japan, U.S., S. Korea Eyeing Trilateral Summit

Tokyo, Nov. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan, the United States and South Korea are arranging a meeting of their leaders on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit later this month, informed sources told Jiji Press Monday.

The APEC summit will be held in the Peruvian capital of Lima
Saturday and Sunday. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, U.S. President George
W. Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak are expected to discuss
topics such as the global financial crisis and North Korea's nuclear
disarmament.
The planned trilateral meeting will be the first of the three
countries' leaders on the fringes of an international conference since one
at the time of the APEC summit in Hanoi in 2006.
Separately, Aso is to hold bilateral talks with Bush.
The three countries all took part in an emergency Group of 20
financial summit in Washington on Friday and Saturday.
At the upcoming meeting, the three leaders are expected to confirm
their cooperation on agreements reached at the financial summit, such as
implementing fiscal measures to stimulate domestic demand and strengthening
the International Monetary Fund, to overcome the financial crisis.
The leaders are also expected to agree to collaborate closely to
achieve strict verification of North Korea's nuclear programs.
Aso plans to request U.S. and South Korean cooperation in resolving
the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals in the past.