Japan and South Korea should work together to seek a negotiated solution to North Korea's alleged nuclear weapons development, top officials of Japan's ruling coalition and South Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun agreed Monday.
Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi heads, Tetsuzo Fuyushiba from New Komeito and Toshihiro Nikai from the New Conservative Party congratulated Roh on his electoral victory ahead of the Feb. 25 inauguration ceremony.
During the meeting, Roh stressed the need for Japan, South Korea and the United States to keep in close contact, saying he plans to convince the North to give up its nuclear arms ambitions.
The president-elect also urged Japan to attempt to restart normalization talks with the North in a bid to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, the lawmakers said.