burden than the four countries and that point should be taken into account," Koizumi said.
He was referring to the argument Japanese Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa told the General Assembly's administrative and budgetary arm Monday.
Of the five permanent Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. -- only the U.S. makes a bigger annual contribution than Japan.
"It is not necessary to directly link the issues of the lack of burdens and permanent (Security Council) membership," Koizumi said. "I think the point is that each country should bear appropriate burdens in the international community."