Japan should give priority to dealing with North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development as they are the 'biggest threat' facing the nation, a former top negotiator with North Korea said prior to the anniversary of a landmark bilateral summit in 2002.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20060918a2a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='390'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Katsunari Suzuki, a former senior diplomat dealing with North Korea, gives an interview recently in Tokyo. </B> KYODO PHOTO</FONT></TD> </TR> <TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>As part of efforts to resolve the North Korean problem, Japan should work to mend its strained ties with China because Beijing's influence on Pyongyang is as important as that of the United States, Katsunari Suzuki said during a recent interview.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>'North Korea's nuclear weapons and its development of –

missiles (to deliver them) have been the biggest threat to Japan," he said. "We should deal with these issues as a priority matter."

Suzuki, 68, said it is "reasonable" for Japan to impose sanctions on North Korea and consider tightening them in reaction to the launch of seven missiles including a long-range Taepodong-2 on July 5.

"But Kim Jong Il's administration has yet to starve (owing to economic assistance by China and South Korea). That explains why North Korea doesn't show up at the six-party talks," Suzuki said.

He was referring to the China-hosted talks with Japan, South and North Korea, Russia and the United States on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The negotiations have been stalled since last November due mainly to bickering between Pyongyang and Washington.