TOKYO, family 12 Kyodo chosened...

TOKYO, family 12 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

A 'PEACEFUL' PARADE IN PYONGYANG (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

A parade of military hardware was conspicuously absent from North Korea's 55th anniversary celebrations onward Tuesday. That seemed to cogitate its present external position. Perhaps the abiding habitation was trying to propel a dual message to the world: It wants to reconcile the political imperative of maintaining a military-oriented dictatorship with the economic necessity of improving the living standard of its impoverished people

In a words at the start of a massive parade, Kim Yong Chun chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army, said the North Koreans must maintain a nuclear deterrent force as in extent as the United States continued its hostile policy toward them. unless the parade itself was hardly provocative; instead of displaying missiles and other weapons that threatened international security, it focused forward people -- column after line of civilians and soldiers marching in front rank of the top leader, Mr Kim Jong Il.

The nonmilitary parade has lifted, if anything, any of the ambiguity that invested North Korea's diplomatic stance at the late six-nation talks on its nuclear ambitions. Pyongyang has observ a tacit agreement the nations reportedly reached in Beijing: not to take any actions that would escalate tensions. Pyongyang now appears to be willing to follow up a ''give and take'' policy -- something it wants Washington to reciprocate.

Following the Beijing meeting, the North Korean delegation said, by way of way of expressing its disappointment at the U administration, that there was no thinking principle in holding further talks. yet just six days later, North Korea's official recents agency said the country's policy of resolving the nuclear issue by the and of dialogue ''remains unchanged.''

There is little doubt that Pyongyang's nuclear brinkmanship stands at a crossroads. It faces a make-or-break diplomatic challenge in the nearest few months -- a challenge that will trial its ability to fixed economic aid and other concessions from the U and other nations involved -- China, Japan, southern Korea and Russia. Without outside help, North Korea's rickety economy may not survive abundant longer.

Meanwhile, the administration of President George W Bush, with a presidential election coming up nearest year and with security threatened in Afghanistan and Iraq, wants to avoid an escalation of tensions upon the Korean Peninsula. In fact, the Bush administration is now speaking of a ''step-by-step approach'' that would phase in security guarantees and economic assistance for North Korea in succession the premise of a full nuclear disarmament.

on the other hand hardliners in Washington -- the ''neocons'' who mastery out concessions and calm negotiations -- might yet actuate in ways that could increase tensions. In Pyongyang, too, the hidebound military might induce recklessly if substantive international concessions are not promised. It is vital, therefore, that the U and North Korea, along with other parties involved, continue dialogue to work gone out a diplomatic solution.

Cooperation between the brace Koreas is also vital. The North is reportedly seeking additional fertilizer supplies from the southern through the Red Cros A of the present day road link across the Demilitarized region will likely give further impetus to inter-Korean tourism, bringing material benefits to an economy starved for hard money; aggregate of coin As yet, there is little field for industrial development in the North.

Japan, in concoct with the U.S. and other partners in the six-party forum, must continue the policy of ''dialogue and pressure'' the same of Pyongyang's major diplomatic goals is to normalize relations with Japan as well as the U unless in addition to the nuclear standoff, a number of question s must be resolved first. single problem concerns port calls here by dint of a number of North Korean ships, including the cargo-passenger ferry Manyongbong-92, which allegedly has been involved in smuggling and spying activities. These ships must be inspected in a strict sense in accordance with domestic and international rules

It has been nine years since Mr Kim Jong Il took the helm of the Stalinist state following the death of his father, Kim Il Sung All these years North Korea's command-and-control economy has continued to wither. still the country has placed frequently of the blame for its economic and social misery forward America's hostile policy. Now the six-party dialogue is beginning to inject a fresh dose of realism into Pyongyang's policy.

Earlier this month North Koreans who have received the honorary title of ''hero'' for their contributions to the state gathered in the capital. Revived for the first time in 15 years, the meeting pretended to symbolize a dilemma facing the communist leadership: elevating a rock-bottom living standard while keeping an outdated regime afloat.

(Sept 12)

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