South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon will visit Japan
next week to seek better bilateral ties and discuss nuclear issues
with Japanese officials, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported
yesterday.
Song, who took office as foreign minister in early December,
will pay a two-day visit to Japan after the conclusion of the
current round of the six-party talks in Beijing, the report
said.
Song is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Japanese Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki separately to discuss ways to improve
the bilateral relations, the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula
and regional cooperation, the report said.
Song will also exchange views with Japanese officials on South
Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to Japan, it said.
During a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Shotaro
Oshima earlier in the day, Song suggested Seoul would be willing to
step out to repair the strained ties with
Tokyo.????
(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2006)