Prospective gov`t coalition partner SDP seeks dialogue with N. Korea

TOKYO, Sept. 5 Kyodo -
The Social Democratic Party, a prospective ruling coalition partner of the
Democratic Party of Japan, proposed that a coalition document stipulate a
policy to promote dialogue with North Korea, members of the parties said
Saturday.
The DPJ, which seeks to maintain pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and
missile tests, plans to respond to the SDP on Tuesday, they said.
Senior executives of the DPJ, the SDP and the People's New Party have held
talks to narrow their policy differences while discussing the formation of a
coalition government but have carried the talks over to next week.
In their talks so far, the DPJ proposed a draft document on their agreements on
forming a coalition, stating that the incoming government would do its utmost
to get North Korea to halt its nuclear arms and missile development and resolve
the abduction issue based on international cooperation, they said.
But the SDP criticized the tough stance on North Korea taken by the outgoing
government of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito party and said
dialogue would be necessary to resolve the issues, they said.
The SDP proposed that the document incorporate a phrase that the new government
would promote dialogue with Pyongyang.
Following Sunday's overwhelming election win, DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama is set
to be elected Japan's prime minister by the Diet on Sept. 16 and launch a
coalition government.
Despite capturing nearly two-thirds of the lower house seats, the DPJ hopes to
form a coalition government with the other two parties because it needs their
cooperation to control the less powerful upper house -- deemed essential to
running a stable government.
==Kyodo