Koizumi told a joint news conference with his Czech counterpart Vladimir Spidla he had received "understanding and support" in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, ahead of upcoming six-nation talks on the crisis.

The Beijing talks -- which are to involve North and South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia -- are expected to urge North Korea to commit to ending its fledgling nuclear weapons programme, ostensibly in exchange for guarantees for the security of the regime.

Earlier this week in Germany, on the first leg of his tour, Koizumi had insisted the talks also include the issue of Japanese people abducted by the Pyongyang regime.

In a joint statement signed by Koizumi and Spidla in the presence of reporters the Czech Republic confirmed its backing for Tokyo's position.

"Both sides expressed their grave concern over the North Korean nuclear issue and urged North Korea to refrain from any action thart would aggravate the situation...," the statement said.

"The Czech side expressed its support to Japan's basic position that...it will solve outstanding problems, such as nuclear, missile and abduction issues comprehensively and achieve normalisation of the diplomatic relations with North Korea," it said.

Spidla told reporters Prague, which, unlike Japan, has a representation in Pyongyang dating back to communist times, was willing to play a mediating role, in the crisis.

Earlier this week as Koizumi set out on his influence and business building tour ahead of the European Union's enlargement to ten countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also underlined his support for Tokyo.

He told a news conference with Koizumi he "understands the position of Japan and supports it," both on how to resolve the nuclear crisis and on the abductions.

Koizumi had arrived in Prague late on Wednesday, on the third and final leg of a European visit, for what was the first official visit by a Japanese prime minister since the country emerged from the break-up of the former Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Tokyo and Prague vowed to step up political and economic relations as the Czech Republic prepares to join the EU on May 1, 2004.

Koizumi started the official part of a visit by laying a wreath at the central Wenceslas square to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the crushing of the Prague Spring uprising by Soviet tanks.

His visit has had more lighthearted moments, with him rushing after arriving in Prague on Wednesday to underline his love of classical music, paying a private visit to the Vysehrad cemetery to visit the graves of Czech composers Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana.

While in Germany earlier this week he was taken by Schroeder to see the opera Tannhauser by German composer Richard Wagner.

And to lighten the conversation, Koizumi has brought along ASIMO, a walking, Czech-speaking robot in human form produced by Japan's Honda Group, which he plans to show off to his Czech hosts over an official dinner late on Thursday.

Before leaving the Czech Republic he is scheduled to meet Japanese businessmen and industrialists based in the Czech Republic.

More than 110 Japanese companies are currently operating in the Czech Republic, according to the official Czech foreign investment agency CzechInvest.

Koizumi is scheduled to leave the Czech Republic on Friday, returning to Tokyo on Saturday.

WAR.WIRE