The United States and South Korea on Saturday expressed "strong support" for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's landmark visit to North Korea.
The summit between Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was a key topic in a regular policy consultation meeting in Seoul between senior diplomats from the U.S., South Korea and Japan, according to a joint press statement released at the end of the meeting.
The U.S. and South Korean delegates "expressed their strong support for Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, which they hope will contribute to the improvement of Japan-DPRK relations and the promotion of regional stability in Northeast Asia," the statement said, referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
On Aug. 30, Japan and North Korea announced that Koizumi will make a one-day visit to Pyongyang on Sept. 17 for a summit with Kim to discuss a range of issues related to establishing diplomatic ties.