South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon will visit Japan next week to seek better bilateral ties and discuss nuclear issues with Japanese officials, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday.

 

Song, who took office as foreign minister in early December, will pay a two-day visit to Japan after the conclusion of the current round of the six-party talks in Beijing, the report said.

 

Song is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki separately to discuss ways to improve the bilateral relations, the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and regional cooperation, the report said.

 

Song will also exchange views with Japanese officials on South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to Japan, it said.

 

During a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Shotaro Oshima earlier in the day, Song suggested Seoul would be willing to step out to repair the strained ties with Tokyo.????

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2006)