InsideJapan News Network

Foreign ministers are currently holding talks in Japan about problems with nuclear armaments in North Korea and Iran it has been reported by AFP.

The talks are being held in Kyoto and involve ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

The meeting will discuss the nuclear disarmament by North Korea and it has been advised by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the country takes the situation seriously.

Ms Rice commented: "We understand that this will probably take some time to resolve. We're continuing to expect the North Koreans to take this issue seriously because it is a major issue for Japan and it's a major issue for the United States."

The G8 summit meetings have been taking place since 1975 and originally involved a meeting outside Paris between the leaders of France, Japan, the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy.