Japan backs S. Korea's response to ship sinking, Hatoyama tells Lee

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TOKYO, May 19 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on
Wednesday that Japan will ''firmly support'' his handling of the deadly sinking
of a South Korean warship after the release of the results of an investigation
Thursday morning.
Their telephone conversation, lasting about 20 minutes, took place prior to the
official release of the investigation results into the March 26 sinking in the
Yellow Sea, in which a North Korean torpedo attack is strongly suspected.
''A little while ago, I called President Lee Myung Bak,'' Hatoyama told
reporters in the evening at the premier's office. ''From the president, I
received a report on the incident.''
After hearing the results, Hatoyama said he told Lee that Japan will firmly
support South Korea's stance in the international community.
In handling the incident, Hatoyama said close cooperation between Japan, South
Korea and the United States will be vital.
Hatoyama, however, declined to comment on the results before the official
announcement, including whether the findings point to Pyongyang's involvement.
According to South Korea's presidential office, Lee told Hatoyama that
conclusive evidence that no country in the world can refute will be presented
Thursday.
The announcement will specify a ''North Korean torpedo attack'' as the cause of
the sinking of the 1,200-ton patrol ship Cheonan that killed 46 sailors, a
South Korean government source told Kyodo News in Seoul on Wednesday.
==Kyodo
2010-05-20 00:05:58