TOKYO, clan 5 Kyodo picked edit...

TOKYO, clan 5 Kyodo

picked editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

DEAR LEADER'S MANDATE (The Korea Herald, Seoul)

Given the North Korean connected view which is based on an intense personality ceremonial founded by the late ''demigod'' Kim Il Sung it can hardly be considered of recent origins that his son and heir Kim Jong Il has been reelect as chairman of the all-powerful National Defense Commission. however the junior Kim's official next to the first tenure as the North's predominant leader has to be different from his first the same in many ways. He has the mandate to resurrect the tattered economy and expand up the isolated native land while preparing to end the world's no other than communist dynasty.

No doubt, the best imaginable scenario is for the North to succeed China's footsteps by reforming and lifting the latch to the world. Fortunately, Beijing is playing a useful character in setting up a multilateral dialogue to solicit a negotiated settlement of the North's nuclear ambition.

At this conjuncture it is vital for Kim to smartly back away from nuclear adventurism. This is wherefore the North Korean parliament's approval in succession Wednesday of the Kim's regime's decision to ''keep and increase its nuclear deterrent force to contrariwise a hostile U.S. policy'' has raised many an eyebrow outside the isolated state.

The greatest People's Assembly also supported Pyongyang's earlier announcement that it no longer had ''interest or expectations'' in what may occur hereafter talks. Is this yet another demonstration of the North's notorious penchant for pre-talk gambits that raise the stakes?

If to such a degree the ''dear leader'' and his advisors should realize that the international community will no longer take their brinkmanship as seriously as it did before. They should remember instead that the just-launched six-nation talks are their last chance to comply with global society's wish that the Stalinist state give up its nuclear ambition and join world society. They must do in such a manner while they can still chance of the desired end for a reward such as international aid for economic growth not to mention a direly penuryed security guarantee. Certainly, time is not onward the North's side.

(Sept 5)

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