The Asahi Shimbun reported that supported for an early general election fell to 33 percent in the latest poll undertaken from the high of 56 percent in early September1.

Japan's top nuclear negotiator, Akitaka Saiki, after meeting his US counterpart, Christopher Hill, stated that both sides had agreed on the need to put together a credible mechanism to check North Korea's nuclear activities2.

Reports also noted that Japan was considering December 14 as the possible date for a proposed trilateral summit with China and South Korea, to be held in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The meeting would not only discuss the global financial turmoil but also help the three countries to act together on the North Korean nuclear issue3.

• 1. “Support for early general election dwindles to 33%: Asahi poll,” Kyodo News, October 28, 2008, at http://asia.news.yahoo.com/081027/kyodo/d943400o0.html
• 2. “Japan, U.S. to push credible nuke verification regime for N. Korea,” The Associated Press, October 28, 2008, at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D943R4LO0&show_article=1
• 3. “Japan eyeing Dec. 14 for trilateral summit with China, S. Korea,” The Associated Press, October 31, 2008, at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D945HQFG2&show_article=1