Bush and Koizumi spoke for 15 minutes, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

"The President thanked the Prime Minister for Japan's continued support and commitment to helping with reconstruction in Iraq," he said aboard Air Force One as Bush headed to Pittsburgh.

"They also discussed their shared commitment to seeking a diplomatic solution as we move forward on North Korea, and the importance of the next round of talks, including Japan and South Korea."

The United States, China and North Korea met in a three-way dialogue on the crisis in April, but Washington has been pressing for its allies Japan and South Korea to join any new round of consultations.

Officials in Japan were quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency that the two leaders also focused on the importance of Japanese economic recovery.

Bush welcomed the approval by Japan's parliament on Saturday of a new law that will allow Japanese troops to go to Iraq to assist in reconstruction work, the officials said.

Koizumi is believed to be considering sending the first Japanese troops to Iraq later this year in his country's first deployment to a combat zone since World War II.

On Japan's economy, Koizumi was quoted as telling Bush there had been positive signs of recovery and he would push forward with structural reforms.

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