South Korean President Kim Dae Jung on Friday told visiting Foreign Minister Yohei Kono that Seoul will continue to closely coordinate with Japan and the United States on dealing with North Korea, Japanese officials said.
Kim also told Kono that it is important to remain in close contact with China and Russia on issues involving North Korea, the officials said.
The president said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il demonstrated leadership during the historic inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in mid-June, they said.
"It's important to directly convey a view to North Korea in some form if one is to improve relations with North Korea," Kim Dae Jung was quoted as telling Kono.