N. Korean nuclear development opposed

TRIESTE, Italy, June 25 (UPI) -- Japan and the United States will not let North Korea proceed with nuclear and missile development, Japan's foreign minister said in Italy Thursday.

Hirofumi Nakasone -- speaking to reporters in the northern Italian city of Trieste after meeting U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns -- said, "With respect to North Korea, we agreed that we will never allow North Korea to carry on with nuclear and missile development."

The two are attending the Group of Eight foreign ministerial meeting in Trieste in preparation for the G8 summit to be held July 8 through July 10 in L'Aquila, Italy.

North Korea faces growing international condemnation of its May 25 underground nuclear test, its second since 2006, and subsequent missile tests. The United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution further tightening sanctions against the Communist country, whose threats are of special concern to Japan and South Korea because of its proximity.

North Korea has threatened to conduct more missile tests in retaliation for the Security Council resolution.

Nakasone said Japan and the United States also agreed to further strengthen their alliance, Kyodo news reported.

"I would ... like to convey our very strong continuing commitment to the alliance between the two countries, which really is the cornerstone of American foreign policy,'' Burns said prior to the start of their talks.

The Kyodo report said Nakasone also met with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who will chair the G8 meeting, and the two agreed to seek a powerful G8 message on the North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The G8 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.