Tokyo  - Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura agreed at a meeting with top nuclear negotiators from South Korea and the United States that three nations should cooperate in urging North Korea to submit a declaration of its nuclear programmes at an early date.

Komura indicated that Japan is ready to accept resumption of stalled six-party talks before North Korea submits the declaration but said the three countries should "act in one voice."

Komura said he would press US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next week in Japan to keep Pyongyang on a list of terrorist-sponsored nations until it moves to resolve issues involving Japanese abductees of the 1970s and '80s.

"The issue here is how much we can utilize this (the sponsor list) as a bargaining chip," Komura said at a news conference. "From Japan's viewpoint, we can play this card further on the nuclear issue, as well at the Japan-North Korea talks, especially on the abduction issue."

Komura reiterated that Japan wanted to see North Korea's nuclear programmes abolished, but he said it was important to assess the priority.

"There is also the view that it is better to get things moving and out of this stalemate toward the goal of denuclearization, even if it means easing the requirements a little now," Komura said. "So we will continue close negotiations to see which way would be the best for achieving the final goal." (dpa)