Russian Foreign Ministry reports good perspectives for Japanese-North Korean relations

Russia considers reaching an agreement on the visit of Japanese PrimeMinister Junichiro Koizumi to North Korea in mid September an importantstep towards settling the relations between two of Russia's neighbors -Japan and North Korea. According to the information and press department ofthe Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow expresses belief that the upcomingsummit will do for the benefit of settling the situation on the KoreanPeninsula and reinforcing peace and stability in the Asian and Pacificregion. Further development of the situation in this direction will help toensure security and improve the situation in North-Eastern Asia - whatRussia is trying to achieve. .