The leaders of South Korea and Japan have pledged to work together to urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to resume negotiations on its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at their joint news conference at the premier's official residence in Tokyo June 28, 2009. [Toru Hanai/CCTV/REUTERS]

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak spent Sunday in Tokyo for meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

They say they are united in supporting a return to the six-party talks, where an agreement had been negotiated to give the DPRK economic aid and other concessions in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program.

Taro Aso, Japanese Prime Minister, said, "We have agreed to consider having talks with the five nations to be able to make any progress in the six-party talks."

Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President, said, "Countries including China are in accordance that North Korea must abandon its nuclear program. But coming from experience, the past methods have failed and we need to seek a new way to persuade North Korea."

(CCTV June 29, 2009)