U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CALLED ON WEDNESDAY FOR «SOME IMPORTANT GESTURES» TO IMPROVE STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA. ANNAN, WHO WAS IN SOUTH KOREA EARLIER THIS WEEK, SAID AFTER MEETING WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI IN TOKYO THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES WERE READY TO BOLSTER TIES. «AFTER THIS CONVERSATION, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN,» ANNAN TOLD REPORTERS AT KOIZUMI'S OFFICE. «IT MAY REQUIRE SOME IMPORTANT GESTURES TO EASE THE WAY FORWARD AND REMOVE THE IMPEDIMENTS.»
