Japan's Koizumi welcomes G8, UN message on North Korea

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 17 (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today said he was satisfied that the United Nations and Group of Eight had spelled out clearly to North Korea that its missile launches were unacceptable.

''The message sent by the U.N. Security Council and G8 is quite important. A very clear message was sent to North Korea,'' said Koizumi, speaking after a G8 summit of the world's top industrialised states in Russia.

On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a Japan-initiated resolution that imposes weapons-related sanctions on North Korea.

The resolution, rejected by North Korea, demanded that Pyongyang suspend all missile activities and return to stalled six-country talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programmes. ''The door is not closed (to talks),'' said Koizumi.

''We agreed that it is essential for the world to be united to solve the problem of the missiles, the nuclear programme and abductions,'' said Koizumi.

Tokyo believes the question of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago to help train spies must be included in international efforts to resolve North Korean issues.

The G8 final statement condemned North Korea's July 5 missile test-launch as a serious threat to peace, urged Pyongyang to abandon nuclear weapons and to return to six-party peace talks.

In an apparent reference to North Korea's calls for a security guarantee from the United States, Koizumi said: ''North Korea's best security guarantee is to become a responsible member of international society, one with sincerity.'' Reuters PKS DB2116