Japan called Friday for caution before a decision is taken to suspend a multinational project to build light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea because it could hinder a peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis, Japanese government officials said.
Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi explained the Japanese position during a meeting with Charles Kartman, the visiting director general of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization.
The officials said Takeuchi indicated that any decision to suspend the project should only be taken after North Korea responds to a proposal to start five-way dialogue involving Japan and South Korea. It is hoped such talks will peacefully resolve the crisis.