South Korean The President plans to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso later this month.

The Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement released here Monday (June 22) that the South Korean president will make a one-day visit to Tokyo on June 28 to exchange views on North Korea''s nuclear program and the prospects for the stalled six-party talks aimed at ending Pyongyang''s nuclear ambitions.

Lee''s trip comes as tensions have escalated since North Korea conducted its second nuclear test on May 25.

Following the nuclear test, the Untied Nations Security Council adopted a new resolution that placed various sanctions on North Korea.

North Korea has rejected the UN resolution and vowed to reinforce its nuclear arsenal.

Also during the upcoming summit, Lee and Aso are also expected to discuss other issues, including ways to boost cooperation between countries in the region and the international community, as well as ways to tackle the ongoing global economic downturn, global warming and countermeasures against the spread of the new influenza strain.

The upcoming meeting will be the fifth in a series of bilateral talks between the leaders since Lee''s inauguration and is part of the two leaders'' so-called "shuttle diplomacy," following their meeting in Seoul in January.

The two leaders agreed that President Lee would visit Japan in 2009 when Prime Minister Aso visited South Korea in January.

By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer

* source : Korea.net