North Korea's neighbours do not want it to go nuclear

The leaders of Japan and South Korea have agreed to prevent the DPRK's coming into possession of nuclear weapons and taken a decision to achieve their goal by peaceful means. This is said in the joint statement of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President No Mu-hyon, published on Saturday on the results of their talks in Tokyo.

Koizumi and No Mu-hyon came out for full and unconditional rejection by North Korea of its nuclear programme, which they see as "a serious threat". If this and other problems are peacefully and comprehensively settled, the two leaders emphasized, the DPRK may get a broad international aid.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders have also voiced the desire to participate in multilateral negotiations with the DPRK, which began between Pyongyang, Washington and Beijing last April.