Tuesday, February 25, 2003

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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who traveled to the Republic of Korea on the evening of February 24 to attend the inauguration ceremony of new President Roh Moo Hyun, attended the ceremony on February 25, after which he had a Summit Meeting with President Roh at the Chong Wa Dae (Blue House Presidential Office) in Seoul. During the Summit Meeting, the two leaders agreed to build future-oriented cooperative relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea and agreed that President Roh will visit Japan at an early date. Furthermore, regarding policy toward North Korea, the leaders shared the view that the issue of nuclear development in North Korea is a serious situation and reaffirmed that Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America would cooperate closely with the aim of achieving a peaceful diplomatic solution. Prime Minister Koizumi departed for Japan the same evening.