in Japan TOKYO, June 25, SPA -- The foreign ministers of the world's topindustrialized countries are meeting in Japan this week,but much of their attention will be focused across thewater on communist North Korea, AP reported. The effort to strip North Korea of its nuclear weaponsprogram is likely to dominate the two-day Group of Eightmeeting starting Thursday in Kyoto. «Japan would like to see the G-8 foreign ministersintensify their efforts in nonproliferation,» JapaneseForeign Minister Masahiko Komura said. Other top issues the Japanese hosts are planning todiscuss are efforts to stop Iran from enriching uranium,enhancement of border security in Afghanistan, andcondemnation of Zimbabwe's holding of a presidential runoffelection despite widespread violence. But North Korea's possible declaration of all its nuclearprograms to China on Thursday and the planned destructionof the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear complex _reportedly on Friday _ promised to steal the limelight. «First and foremost is North Korea,» said a ForeignMinistry official who spoke on condition of anonymitybecause of ministry policy. North Korea could turn over a report on its nuclearprograms as soon as Thursday. The delay in producing thelist, which was due at the end of last year, has stalledtalks on granting aid to the impoverished nation in returnfor its denuclearization. North Korea has invited foreign television stations tobroadcast the destruction of the cooling tower, which hasbeen taken as an indication of a breakthrough in theyearslong international talks. North Korea's military programs are a primary concern inJapan, which is in easy range of North Korean ballisticmissiles. Tokyo has also long demanded a resolution ofNorth Korean abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970sand 80s. Concerns about nuclear proliferation among G-8 members _the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Japan, Britain,Italy and Canada _ will also focus on Iran. The European Union froze the assets this week of Iran'slargest bank over Tehran's refusal to back off uraniumenrichment, which Washington and its allies worry could beused to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has yet to formally respond to a package of trade andeconomic incentives to make a deal. The offers were madeJune 14 by the five permanent U.N. Security Council membersplus Germany. Iran could also be a point of division among G-8 foreignministers. While the U.S. has not ruled out militaryintervention to stop Tehran from making a bomb, Russia isopposed to the use of force. «The key to resolving the Iranian issue is involvement,»Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week. «Wemust involve Iran, engage Iran in resolving the Iraniannuclear program, but also engage Iran in constructive,respectful, serious dialogue on Iraq and Afghanistan, onthe Middle East in general.» Indeed, diplomats from the United States, the EU, theUnited Nations and Russia called on Tuesday for urgentprogress in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and theMiddle East was certain to be discussed in Kyoto. Japan has been eager to promote discussion of Afghanistan,where it has pledged US$2 billion in aid and is floatingideas for additional assistance, such as vehicles for lawenforcement. «Reconstruction of Afghanistan is crucial in our fightagainst terrorism,» Komura said. Fighting between Taliban-led insurgents and foreign andgovernment forces has been surging across the south andeast of the country, with nearly 2,000 people killed ininsurgency-related violence so far in 2008.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/568316