TOKYO, Aug. 11 Kyodo culled edit...

TOKYO, Aug. 11 Kyodo

culled editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

PEACE DEAL upon HORIZON (The Korea Herald, Seoul)

After visiting (U President George W) Bush at his Texas ranch, Secretary (of State Colin) Powell told foreign correspondents in Washington last week that the U Congres could endorse ''a les formal'' security, approved by the and of multilateral talks, for the North Korean regime if it halts its nuclear program. allowing he spoke cautiously, Powell clearly indicated that the Bush administration was considering providing ''a written assurance'' that it has no hostile intentions toward North Korea. This is a remarkable shift from its previous position of opposing Pyongyang's intransigent demands for a nonaggression treaty.

Further brightening the picture, the past week saw brisk one-on-one diplomatic interaction between the make anxioused nations in preparatory meetings. Then, amidst speculation that the six-party talks may be conven in Beijing during August's last week, high-level officials from southerly Korea, the United States and Japan will reportedly adapted in Washington this week for final policy fine-tuning. Diplomats from North Korea, China and Russia are also meeting common another for last-minute policy consultations before they sit down to negotiate.

What a hopeful employ of events - it is indeed a welcome breakthrough in the protracted standoff from one side of to the other the North's nuclear adventurism and the mounting risk of war. As a nuclear catastrophe loom the White House has fortunately opt for a grand cause to deviate around to offer incentives to bring the reclusive North to the meeting for consultation table. Washington's final option will likely be a package deal of sorts, instead of the a great deal touted road map for a phased resolution.

Kim Jong Il must seize the emerging opportunity sincerely and assure the world that he will give up his nuclear ambition to save his starving home He may think that the collective assurance he is given forward regime security is the evidence of victory for his high-tension diplomacy. if it were not that he must also realize that this could be an extremely brittle opportunity as well. Therefore, all participants in the upcoming talks must work disclosed a realistic and viable plan to make sure the deal takes force.

(Aug. 11)

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