Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Thursday at the
start of business in 2007 that Japan will seek for early resumption
of six-party talks over the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.
Japan will "make efforts" for the resumption of the six-nation
talks "at an early date this year," the premier told a press
conference. He called on North Korea to handle the six-party talks
in a "sincere" manner.
North Korea "must understand that it needs to respond to the
international community's concerns with regard to the six-party
talks ..." Abe said.
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue,
which involve North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and
the United States, were last held in December in Beijing.
During the 30-minute press conference, Abe also called for
support for his plan to have Japan's pacifist Constitution
revised.
"I want to deepen discussions among the ruling and opposition
camps on the bill to pave the way for procedures for the
Constitution revision and hope to have it submitted to this year's
ordinary Diet session," the premier said.
At his first new year press conference as a prime minister, Abe
said that 2007 was "the first year of nation-building toward a
beautiful country." He promised to push for legislation to solve
social insurance issue and find ways to handle the country's
dropping birthrate.
The premier also ruled out the possibility of calling a snap
lower house election on the same day as July's upper house
election.
(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2007)
