Japan and South Korea resumed their first full-fledged summit talks since 2005 on Monday, exploring ways to develop closer ties and step up cooperation on international concerns.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said at the opening of the talks that he wanted to frankly discuss broadening bilateral exchanges, economic cooperation, and other international concerns.

"Japan and South Korea have developed similar fundamental concepts where economic assistance to North Korea will be realized with the normalization of diplomatic relations."

When it came to North Korea's nuclear issue, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak stressed the importance of resuming the Six-Party talks.

"We see North Korea's nuclear issue as a threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula, as well as across the East Asia region. We share the view that we will closely cooperate to resolve this issue peacefully through the Six-Party talks."

Fukuda said he was informed about Project 3000, through which South Korea will provide North Korea with aid and help it achieve a 3,000-US-dollar per capita GDP if the North gives up its presumed nuclear program.

The two leaders also agreed to expand business and cultural exchanges.

They met earlier in February on the sidelines of Lee's inauguration and agreed to resume regular annual summit talks.