"They (EU and Japan) reiterated that the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of North Korea) must promptly eliminate its nuclear weapons programme in a visible, irreversible and verifiable manner," the two sides said in a joint statement issued on the sidelines of a EU-Japan summit.
"They expressed their support for the idea that the issue be discussed within a multilateral framework," the statement said.
It said last month's talks held in Beijing between North Korea, the United States and China "might be a step in that direction with the possible participation of other countries concerned." Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, visiting Greece as party of a European tour, reiterated his country's call for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
"We must keep up efforts in this direction," he said at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country holds the EU presidency, and European Commission President Romano Prodi.
"We want the application of international law," Simitis said citing Pyongyang's "non-application of agreements on nuclear proliferation as well as the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea as causes of "concern.
"The EU and Japan, in coordination with other parties will work together to find a diplomatic solution," Simitis said - Sapa-AFP
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