Japan, US reaffirm need to resolve DPRK nuclear issue

TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A visiting U.S. official and Japanese foreign ministry officials reaffirmed the need to fully carry out the U.N.'s resolution on Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and resolve the Pyongyang's nuclear and missile issues Friday.

Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, told reporters after meeting with Japanese officials that it is important for the international community to tell DPRK "it's not too late" to return to the negotiation table of six-party talks on Pyongyang's denuclearization.

Campbell, who is visiting Japan for the first time since assuming the post in June, also vowed to cooperate with Japan on other issues including the abductions of Japanese nationals, according to Japanese foreign ministry.

On the other hand, Japanese officials suggested "a new approach" to realize the denuclearization of DPRK, which would be based on such principles as not allowing DPRK to buy time or adopt a strategy of winning aid with only slight concessions, according to Kyodo News.

Pyongyang said it will quit the six-party talks in protest over a U.N. Security Council statement condemning its rocket launch in April and a U.N. resolution after its second nuclear test in May.