Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has put a brake on hardline policies toward the communist North Korea.
In a news conference following the Asia-Europe meeting concluded in Vietnam on Saturday, Koizumi said we should carefully consider whether economic sanctions and other hardline measures to press Pyongyang are in fact effective.
He added Tokyo will exercise patience in talks with the North for the communist state to prudently deal with pending issues including its nuclear ambitions and the alleged kidnapping of Japanese nationals in the past.
Koizumi's remarks appear to clarify his nation's stance that the way to resolve North Korean matters will be through "dialogue."