Japan, U.S., S. Korea ministers to issue statement accusing N. Korea

TOKYO, Dec. 3 Kyodo -
Foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea are likely to
issue a joint statement accusing North Korea of launching a deadly shelling of
a South Korean island, sources close to the move said Friday.
The joint statement will be issued after their talks in Washington next Monday
among Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sung Hwan.
North Korea's shelling of a South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong in the
Yellow Sea on Nov. 23 killed four people and caused extensive damage.
In the talks, the three are also expected to reaffirm their policy coordination
in addressing issues regarding North Korea which include its uranium enrichment
activity as well as the stalled six-party talks on the North's nuclear program.
Maehara on Friday urged North Korea to allow International Atomic Energy Agency
inspectors in again and let them look at the newly unveiled uranium enrichment
program so the six-party talks can reopen.
He also said at a news conference that he will discuss with his U.S. and South
Korea counterparts the conditions in responding to China's proposal of
convening an emergency six-party meeting on North Korea.
==Kyodo