Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Han Seung-soo said Friday the government would prudently consider cooperating with China in dealing with Japan's bid for a permanent seat of the proposed new U.N. Security Council (UNSC).

He added that it would also depend on Tokyo's attitude toward the issue of school textbooks justifying its military aggressions before and during World War II.

The minister made the remarks while testifying on the government's measures against Japan's approval of controversial textbooks at the National Assembly.

He said the Japanese bid will become a matter of concern to the government when the UNSC is reorganized. The membership of the new UNSC has yet to be set and Brazil and India are also interested in gaining a seat.

Asked about a further opening of the pop arts market to Japan, Han said the government would also carefully consider this matter, weighing its effect on the textbook issue.