The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tokyo

Japan and South Korea agreed on Monday that North Korea needs to swiftly give a full account of its nuclear programs, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said. Speaking after meeting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Tokyo, Fukuda also welcomed Lee's stance on North Korea, which is tougher than what Pyongyang has seen from Seoul over the past decade and more in line with Tokyo's position. Lee is visiting Tokyo after a trip to the United States, resuming summit diplomacy that had been suspended under his predecessor, who complained Japan had not offered proper contrition for its 1910-1945 rule of the Korean peninsula. "On the nuclear issue, we confirmed the need for North Korea to swiftly make a correct and full declaration," Fukuda told a joint news conference with Lee after their meeting. "We agreed that Japan and South Korea would work together and that Japan, South Korea and the United States would cooperate more closely than before." A U.S. team will have talks in Pyongyang on Tuesday and Wednesday on how to verify any declaration North Korea may make about its nuclear programs, the U.S. State Department said last week. North Korea, which tested a nuclear device in 2006, failed to meet a December 31 deadline to reveal its nuclear weapons programs, as stipulated in a deal struck under the six-party talks process with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. A Japanese newspaper reported on Monday that North Korea told the United States in December it has produced a total of around 30 kg (66 lbs) of plutonium, about 20 kg less than what the United States estimates.