G8 to discuss nukes, Zim

2008-06-26 09:10

Kyoto - Efforts to stop North Korea and Iran from developing nuclear weapons, along with the global response to climate change, were expected to dominate a two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of the world's top industrialised nations.

The meeting, set to begin on Thursday with a series of bilateral meetings and a state dinner, will lay the groundwork for the annual Group of Eight summit on the northern Japan island of Hokkaido next month.

The foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, were planning to discuss at length North Korea's nuclear programme in their main gathering, scheduled for Friday morning.

Iran also was on the agenda.

"Japan would like to see the G-8 foreign ministers intensify their efforts in non-proliferation," Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said.

Other issues the Japanese hosts are planning to discuss are border security in Afghanistan and a joint condemnation of Zimbabwe holding its presidential run-off election despite widespread violence.

North Korea to declare nuclear programmes

The meeting comes as North Korea has said it will declare all its nuclear programmes to China on Thursday and destroy the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear complex - reportedly on Friday.

North Korea's failure to turn over its report on nuclear programmes at the end of last year has stalled talks on granting aid to the impoverished nation in return for its denuclearisation.

But the United States has said North Korea is now ready, and in exchange has offered to remove the country from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.

The G-8 members are the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Japan, Britain, Italy and Canada.

- AP