In an interview published in the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita just before his arrival in Poland, Koizumi said that all diplomatic and peaceful means should be used to find a solution to the crisis over North Korea.

"Categorically, we cannot allow North Korea to continue its program of nuclear armament, to possess atomic weapons and cause them to proliferate," he said.

"It is indispensible to freeze irreversibly all North Korean nuclear weapons programs," Koizum told the paper, also insisting on the need for "immediate verification."

Earlier, in Berlin, Koizumi also insisted that the upcoming six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis in Beijing August 27-29 must also include the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by the Pyongyang regime.

Speaking after talks in Germany with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Koizumi described the abductions as "unforgiveable and inhumane." and warned Pyongyang that "a return (of the abudcted Japanese) would be much better for North Korea".

"Japan has asked North Korea not to get upset, but simply to give its citizens back," he said.

North Korea has admitted that its agents kidnapped several citizens from Japan decades ago.

Although some of the surviving abductees have been allowed to visit Japan, their relatives still in North Korea have not been allowed to leave.

Koizumi said his visit to Poland, the first by a Japanese premier in 13 years, was important in view of Poland's membership next year of the European Union.

He was scheduled to travel next to the Czech Republic, another EU candidate member.

WAR.WIRE