Go slow on N. Korea talks, Japan told

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea has formally asked Japan to bediscreet in normalization talks with Communist North Korea in ordernot to hurt inter-Korean dialogue, officials said Sunday.

There was no immediate Japanese response to the request, aForeign Ministry official said.

"We needed to remind Japan that too much progress in Japan-NorthKorea talks could deteriorate inter-Korea dialogue," the officialsaid.

The Seoul government believes that before Japan normalizesrelations with North Korea, there should be progress in relationsbetween the rival Koreas.