The leaders of China, South Korea and Japan said Sunday that they will work together to try to calm tensions on the Korean peninsula. The three largest East Asian economies also took steps toward deepening their economic ties by laying the groundwork for a regional free trade area, according to a report of the Associated Press. The nations - which together account for 90 percent of the East Asian economy - were holding their fifth annual trilateral summit, with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hosting, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attending. Lee said the three countries all agreed that any further provocations from North Korea would be unacceptable. Wen urged all parties to "return to the right track of dialogue and negotiations." "The pressing task is to try our best to prevent tensions on the Korean peninsula from escalating," he said. Noda said Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul should work together to try to prevent further provocations by North Korea. Lee, meanwhile, said South Korea was pleased that China has been urging North Korea to improve the living standards of its people. The leaders agreed that negotiations for the free trade area should begin by the end of the year.
