Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Thursday at the start of business in 2007 that Japan will seek for early resumption of six-party talks over the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

Japan will "make efforts" for the resumption of the six-nation talks "at an early date this year," the premier told a press conference. He called on North Korea to handle the six-party talks in a "sincere" manner.

North Korea "must understand that it needs to respond to the international community's concerns with regard to the six-party talks ..." Abe said.

The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, which involve North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States, were last held in December in Beijing.

During the 30-minute press conference, Abe also called for support for his plan to have Japan's pacifist Constitution revised.

"I want to deepen discussions among the ruling and opposition camps on the bill to pave the way for procedures for the Constitution revision and hope to have it submitted to this year's ordinary Diet session," the premier said.

At his first new year press conference as a prime minister, Abe said that 2007 was "the first year of nation-building toward a beautiful country." He promised to push for legislation to solve social insurance issue and find ways to handle the country's dropping birthrate.

The premier also ruled out the possibility of calling a snap lower house election on the same day as July's upper house election.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2007)