President Lee Myung-bak, center, joins hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, left, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for a photo prior to the first round of their two-day trilateral summit at the International Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Saturday. The second round of talks, focusing on the crisis brewing on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's torpedo attack on the South Korean Navy vessel Cheonan in March, will be held Sunday.
JEJU ISLAND ― Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged "wholehearted" support for South Korea Saturday in seeking an international response to North Korea's torpedo attack on a South Korean warship in March, saying Tokyo will closely cooperate with the international community in dealing with the aftermath.
At a summit with President Lee Myung-bak here prior to their trilateral talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Hatoyama also said his government will take its own countermeasures against the reclusive nation, including a stronger inspection of money being sent to North Korea and its ships using Japan's sea lanes, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The leaders also agreed to facilitate working-level dialogue between Seoul and Tokyo to resume the talks on singing a bilateral free trade agreement, based on common understanding that the accord is crucial in fostering future-oriented and strategic partnership.
South Korea's plan to take North Korea to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) for sanctions over the attack was high on the agenda at the meeting between Lee and Hatoyama.
Early in the morning, the Japanese leader visited the National Cemetery in Daejeon, where the 46 sailors killed in the naval tragedy are buried, and offered his deep condolences to their families.
"Prime Minister Hatoyama vowed to deal sternly with Pyongyang based on firm alliance with Seoul," said Lee Dong-kwan, senior presidential secretary for public relations. "He showed his deep respect for Lee, saying Seoul has been taking a cool-headed, well-coordinated response to the tragedy under his firm leadership."
The summit came one day after the bilateral talks between Lee and Chinese Premier Wen in Seoul.
The leaders of South Korea, Japan and China arrived on this southern resort island Saturday for three-way talks, which will continue until Sunday.
On Friday, Wen pledged to consult closely with the countries concerned to punish those behind the incident, saying China will review the results of an international investigation, released in Seoul on May 20, in a fair and objective manner.
He, however, stopped short of clarifying whether Beijing accepts the results of a probe by South Korea, the United States, Australia and Sweden.
Some observers here said Wen's remarks indicate that China may join the U.S. and its allies in censuring North Korea for the sinking of the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan.
In separate talks with Prime Minister Chung Un-chan on Saturday, Wen expressed his condolences to South Korean people and family members of the victims for the "unfortunate incident," Chung's office said.
In the first session of the three-way summit, Saturday, the leaders agreed to set up a "cooperation secretariat" in Seoul in 2012 to strengthen, institutionalize and facilitate future cooperation among the three nations.
The deal is part of the "Vision 2020" roadmap toward a Northeast Asian community, presenting guidelines and principles of their cooperation for the next decade, according to the presidential office.
The agenda also included a proposed free trade agreement among them, and Seoul's preparations to host the G-20 Summit in November.
In the second round of talks on Sunday, the leaders will concentrate on the Cheonan issue and North Korea's nuclear program. They are scheduled to hold a joint press conference later in the day to sum up the outcome of their discussions.
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