Japan has sought Indonesia's support for the settlement of the Cheonan sinking incident that has raised tension in the Korean peninsula, although has stopped short of defining what role Jakarta could play.
The Japanese Embassy in Jakarta released a press statement on the 20-minute conversation between Japanese newly inaugurated Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and his counterpart Marty Natalegawa last week, in which both discussed the escalation of tension after the South Korean vessel, Cheonan, was allegedly torpedoed by North Korea on March 26.
"Both ministers agreed to continue their cooperation, including the settlement on the Korean ship sinking, through the UN Security Council," said the press release.
North and South Korea are scheduled to address the UN Security Council (UNSC) separately Monday over the Cheonan sinking, Reuters reported. Japan, a non-permanent member of the UNSC, is a member of the six-party talks that brings South Korea, China, the US and Russia into discussion with North Korea over its nuclear disarmament.
The six-party talks have been met with a stalemate for two years and the Cheonan sinking has raised concerns that the negotiations would be put on hold for a longer time now. North Korea has shunned a joint report blaming Pyongyang for the sinking that killed 46 South Korean sailors. Two Indonesians also died after their vessel sank in a separate accident when rescuing the Cheonan victims.
Seiko Namba, press attache of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, said Monday the telephone conversation between both ministers had not gone into detail regarding what role Jakarta could play in the settlement of the Cheonan sinking.
In a separate occasion, Beijing also asked for Jakarta to support the resumption of the six-party talks during a meeting between Marty and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai in Jakarta last Friday.
"China is playing an important role as the initiator of the six-party talks. China has also noted that Indonesia has good relations with both South and North Korea," Marty told the press after the meeting.
Jakarta has a longer history of diplomatic relations with the North compared to the South, although Jakarta and Seoul boast much stronger trade and investment ties.
Relations with the North were established in 1963, followed with South Korea in 1973.
A diplomat from the South Korean Embassy said Jakarta's role in the resumption of six-party talks was now confined to giving political support as opposed to giving technical support because Jakarta was not involved in this forum.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said Indonesia had capacity to make a positive contribution to the six-party talks process, based on its close relations with the two Koreas.
He said Indonesia played the role as messenger between South and North Korea shortly before the establishment of the six-party talks.
"It was and remains possible because both countries feel comfortable with our role. Indonesia has always been driven by altruistic motives in its efforts to help resolve conflict in the region, including in the East Asian region," he said.
Japan has strongly condemned North Korea for torpedoing Cheonan, while China and Indonesia denounced the attacks but refrained from referring to North Korea as those responsible in the attack. Jakarta said "it condemned such a heinous act and those responsible must be held fully accountable".
China, which has close relations with North Korea, has been pushing for the resumption of six-party talks while South Korea has given priority on the settlement of Cheonan through the UNSC. South Korea has said that it did not expect the UNSC to slap sanctions on North Korea but wants Pyongyang to admit and take responsibility over the incident.
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