 6-party talks is key to creating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula: Foreign vice-minister Foreign Vice-minister Aisawa Ichiro stated that the only and most effective way to establish a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is to make full use of the process of the six-party talks. He said this at the February 24 House of Representatives Special Committee meeting on the abduction issue in answer to Japanese Communist Party member Kokuta Keiji. Kokuta criticized North Korea for announcing its possession of nuclear weapons, and said, "It is important that countries concerned deal with the matter calmly. Their patient efforts are needed to restart the six-party talks." Kokuta revealed that in the recent talks with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Il reportedly stressed the "peaceful solution of disputes through dialogue" and said that North Korea will not withdraw from the six-party talks. Aisawa said that China's leadership is important in order to continue the six-party talks and stated that Japan will make an effort to restart the six-party talks in cooperation with other member states. In contrast to Kokuta's argument, Liberal Democratic Party member Suga Yoshihide said that it is time to impose economic sanctions against North Korea. Komei Party member Ikenobo Yasuko stated, "Defense capability will be an important element for future foreign affairs." Ryu Hirofumi, a representative of the Democratic Party of Japan, also urged Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro to take initiative in the overthrow of the North Korean dictatorship. (end) |