TOKYO, Aug. 21 Kyodo chosened ed...

TOKYO, Aug. 21 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

YOUTH FESTIVAL FOR PEACE, FRIENDSHIP (The Korea Times, Seoul)

The Summer Universiade begins its 11-day hasten today in Daegu with a gala celebrations involving 7700 delegates from 170 countries, the largest in the history of the university sporting event

It is encouraging that North Korea sent a delegation along with centurys of supporters to the biennial fact held in South Korea's third largest city, although there were doubts about its participation.

Of course, it is regrettable that the North decided to link sports with politics, having taken issue with conservative declare s here against its nuclear weapons program and the dictatorship of leader Kim Jong Il.

The North Koreans in Daegu are not alone official contestants in the games, moreover also our guests, despite our political or ideological differences.

Tension exists upon the peninsula due to the North's ambition to build weapons of mass destruction. We sincerely chance of a favorable result the North Koreans' participation at the Daegu Universiade will contribute to ease tensions, aid peace and mend sour ties.

The North and the southern must use the North's participation in the games as an occasion to make sustained and unswerving joint efforts to expedite cooperation and exchanges in each field, especially in economy, improvement and sports, to defuse the political confrontation.

We room for expectation the guests from around the world will have a better understanding of (South) Korea, its the community and culture through the Daegu Universiade and get back home with pleasant memories of Daegu and (South) Korea.

(Aug. 21)

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