Eurozone debt crisis, N. Korea, Iran to top agenda of G-8 summit

At their two-day summit through Saturday at the U.S. presidential retreat in Maryland, the G-8 leaders are expected to discuss and demonstrate their solidarity in solving Europe's debt woes, Japanese and U.S. officials said,  Kyodo reports.

The G-8 summit comes amid uncertainty over the fate of debt-plagued Greece and its decision to hold new elections next month, which has fueled market fears that Athens may not implement austerity measures required under its international bailout package.

Before leaving Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters, ''We should encourage voluntary efforts by the eurozone further and should discuss what kind of policy coordination the G-8 can do.''

The G-8 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

To combat the eurozone crisis, Japan, for its part, has pledged a $60 billion contribution to the International Monetary Fund's efforts to boost its resources, and has responded to calls to strengthen the Asian safety net to protect against potential risks caused by the debt crisis.

The bleak outlook for Europe's sovereign debt crisis has weakened the euro relative to currencies such as the U.S. dollar and yen, a worrying development for export-oriented Japanese firms.

Noda said he will also urge his G-8 counterparts to renew their cooperation to prevent North Korea from engaging in further provocative actions following its failed rocket launch on April 13.

Pyongyang's failure to launch the rocket using ballistic missile technology, in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, has fueled speculation that the country may conduct another nuclear test.

During their working dinner, the G-8 leaders will discuss regional issues such as how to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions and the escalating violence in Syria, the officials said.

Myanmar will also be on the agenda.

''There's been remarkable progress in Burma, and the leaders will want to engage on this on Friday evening,'' U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon said in a press briefing, using the other name by which the country is known. ''Burma is at the start of a long but promising path towards democracy.''

Making their G-8 debuts are Noda, who assumed office in September last year, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and French President Francois Hollande, with Hollande expected to be in the spotlight over measures France will implement to curb Europe's debt crisis.

With regard to Iran, the U.S. government is calling on other G-8 countries to make preparations for the release of strategic oil reserves in view of the European Union's full ban on crude oil imports from Iran starting in July, according to sources close to Japan-U.S. ties.

The United States and Europe believe Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons and have imposed sanctions on Tehran.

How to boost Afghanistan's development and improve food security in Africa will also be discussed during the G-8 summit, the officials said.

At the session on food security, leaders of four African nations -- Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania -- will attend.

Ahead of the summit, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a $3 billion private-sector commitment to boost food security and help ease chronic hunger in Africa.

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