Tokyo, July 12, SPA -- The upcoming six-party talks on North Koreandisarmament will fail unless the communist state makes acommitment to abandon its nuclear weapons, U.S. Secretaryof State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday. "What we really need is a strategic decision on the partof the North that they are indeed ready to give up theirnuclear weapons program," Rice told reporters after themeeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimurain Tokyo. "Without that, these talks cannot be successful," she was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. She also said Washington strongly supports Japan's effortsto resolve the cases of Japanese citizens kidnapped decadesago by North Korean agents. The North has released five ofthe victims, but Japan believes other victims may stillremain in the reclusive country. "We agreed that there must be an actual progress in thenext round of talks, and we expect North Korea's seriousand constructive handling," Machimura said. "We alsoconfirmed the importance of close cooperation among Japan,the United States and South Korea on the issue."--SPA1354 Local Time 1054 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/276310