SEOUL, May 29 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Saturday evaluated highly Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's recent visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    "It was a good decision," Roh told visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi at his office in the Blue House on Saturday, reported South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

    "I think making efforts to open dialogue and develop relations (with the DPRK) through the weighty decision was the right thing for a leader to do, however all political actions can have criticsand supporters," Roh was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

    He expected Koizumi's visit will have a good affect on the six-nation talks on Pyongyang's nuclear issue and help establish peacein Northeast Asia.

    The six nations, China, the DPRK, the United States, Russian, South Korea and Japan, earlier agreed to hold their third round oftalks by the end of June.

    Koizumi paid his second visit to Pyongyang last Saturday and held a meeting with DPRK's leader Kim Jong Il. After the meeting, the DPRK permitted five family members of previously abducted Japanese nationals who are now living in Japan to go back to Tokyowith Koizumi.

    Koizumi and Kim also decided to resume talks on normalizing bilateral ties.

    Kawaguchi congratulated Roh on his return to office after his impeachment was overturned and on the pro-government Uri Party's strong win in the April 15 general election. Roh's executive powers were suspended for two months after the parliament impeached him in mid-March.

    She quoted Koizumi as saying after the DPRK visit that he wouldwork closely with Roh in the future.

    Before meeting with Roh, Kawaguchi had talks with her South Korean counterpart, Ban Ki-moon. They have discussed Koizumi's Pyongyang trip and the DPRK nuclear issue, but details were not immediately disclosed.

    The Japanese foreign minister is scheduled to return home Sunday wrapping up a two-day stay. Enditem