Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has warned the Democratic Party not to submit a motion of censure against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda over the handling of tax-related bills.

Mr Koizumi attended a meeting with parliament members of the largest opposition party on Thursday night.

The Democratic Party is poised to submit a motion of censure against the Prime Minister if the governing parties seek to enact tax-related bills with a second vote in the Lower House, where the governing parties hold a majority which is greater than two-thirds.

Mr Koizumi said a motion of censure would not lead to the dissolution of the Lower House or a resignation of the Cabinet.
He said the censure motion would be meaningless and would backfire with the public voicing disapproval of the Democratic Party.

Mr Koizumi also spoke about how to approach North Korea. He said exerting pressure alone would not work and said it is necessary to promote dialogue with the country. He said that if the two countries are to normalize ties, it should be done through a visit to North Korea by the Prime Minister, who is Japan's supreme leader. He also said he has no intention of paying another visit to North Korea.

Mr Koizumi visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea twice while in office, in 2002 and 2004.

Japan has diplomatic ties with South Korea but not the North.

2008/04/11 05:56
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/11_06.html