Phnom Penh, Nov 05: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said today he did not take seriously a threat by North Korea that it would reconsider its moratorium on missile tests if bilateral normalisation talks failed.
"I do not expect the North Koreans will trample on the fundamental principles and the spirit of that declaration," Koizumi told reporters in reference to a commitment by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in September to extend the moratorium.
"So we would not take seriously that sort of statement."
Koizumi said North Korea's nuclear program was a serious
regional security issue that was discussed among leaders at
the annual association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN)
summit, in which China and South Korea also participated in
parallel meetings.
"That is a matter of great concern for peace and
stability in this region," he said.
Koizumi said leaders had expressed strong support for
dismantling of the North Korean nuclear program.
"For the normalisation of relations between Japan and North Korea I will continue to ask the North Koreans to translate into action, in to reality, the principles of the
Pyongyang declaration with good faith.
"And therefore I do expect the North Koreans to observe
strictly the principles and the spirit of that declaration,"
he said.
Bureau Report
