SAINT PETERSBURG (AFX) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin's to back a 'severe' UN resolution against North Korea's missile tests.
The Russia-Japan talks, ahead of the G8 summit, came as the UN Security Council made a last-ditch effort to reach a breakthrough over a punitive resolution proposed by Japan and backed by the US.
'It is necessary for the international community to take a severe stance resolutely,' Koizumi told President Vladimir Putin, according to a Japanese government official.
'We want the international community to clearly denounce North Korea's missile launches,' Koizumi said.
Putin showed understanding of Japan's concerns but stopped short of agreeing to the request.
'Japan's fear and anxiety are well grounded and I understand them,' Putin was quoted by the official as saying. 'The UN Security Council is now working on possible wording. We want to discuss the issue at the United Nations.' steve.whitehouse@afxnews.com si/sw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited