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Our top story this morning... For the first time in six years, the leaders
of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met following the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.
It was also the first time President Park sat down for talks with Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe. But as widely expected, North Korea's nuclear
issue dominated their talks. Our correspondent Choi You-sun , who's traveling
with the president filed this report. The leaders of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan
reaffirmed their position that North Korea must completely, verifiably and irreversibly
end its nuclear weapons program. Agreeing they will not engage in talks with
the North unless it shows sincerity about giving up nuclear arms, the three countries
decided to hold a trilateral meeting of their nuclear negotiators in the near future.
"At a time of uncertainties in North Korea, and there being a need for closer coordination
among the three countries with regard to the North Korean nuclear issue, the chance to
exchange views with President Obama and Prime Minister Abe is very significant."
The Washington-led summit has garnered much attention, especially since it was the first
between President Park and her Japanese counterpart amid strained bilateral ties over historical
and territorial issues.
"I think it's very important for our three nations to display this kind of unity and
shared determination. It's an important message to our citizens, it's an important message
to the Asia-Pacific region."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has several times expressed his wishes to meet
President Park, despite his government's historical denials, seemed to have prepared a lot for
Tuesday's meeting.
"I am so very happy to be able to meet President Park Geun-hye."
As expected, the most contentious issues, such as Japan's denials of its colonial-era
atrocities and its claims to Korea-controlled Dokdo Island, were not brought up Tuesday.
"President Park is now in Berlin to start the first leg of her four-day state visit.
Here, she'll hold summit talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim
Gauck to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and seek German support for her reunification
policy. Choi You-sun, Arirang News, Berlin."