(19 Jan 2006)

1. Wide shot of Japanese Chief Cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe
2. Cutaway
3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): Shinzo Abe, Japanese Chief Cabinet secretary:
"We urge North Korea to return to the six-party talks at the earliest time and with no conditions attached. The government of Japan has the intention to cooperate with the other member states to resume the talks at the earliest time."
4. Wide shot of news conference

STORYLINE:

Japan Thursday urged the swift return of North Korea to six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.

"The government of Japan has the intention to cooperate with the other member states to resume the talks at the earliest," Japanese Chief Cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe said.

US envoy Christopher Hill met with Chinese officials on Wednesday. News reports said he also had a meeting with his North Korean counterpart to discuss reviving the talks.

As he prepared to head home on Wednesday evening, Hill told reporters he had "good discussions" with Chinese officials, but made no mention of a meeting with North Korean envoys.

Hill said no date has been set for resuming the six-nation talks, which also include South Korea, Japan and Russia.

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Hill held a meeting in the state guesthouse with his North Korean counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan.

The North agreed in September to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security assurances.

But discussions have stalled since November over Pyongyang's anger at sanctions imposed on it for alleged counterfeiting and other government-directed misdemeanours.

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