TOKYO, May 31 Kyodo picked edito...

TOKYO, May 31 Kyodo

picked editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

BENEFITS OF CLOSER JAPAN-U.S. TIES (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

After Iraq, the mostly destabilizing factor affecting Japan today is nuclear-arms unfolding by North Korea. While aiming for a peaceful solution of the enigma through dialogue, the leaders of Japan and the United States have affirmed that if North Korea escalates the situation they are ready to adopt a tougher approach, including economic sanctions.

In addition, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U President George W Bush, at their summit in Texas earlier this week, agreed to accelerate research forward missile defense, moving further to strengthen Japan-U.S. security cooperation.

Missile defense not alone entails massive expenditures but also involves legal question s because it could conflict with Japan's constitutional ban forward exercising the right of collective self-defense Following his support for military action in Iraq, Mr Koizumi appears to be leaning further toward Japan's alliance with the US

however it must be noted that Japanese diplomacy rides forward two axles -- the alliance with the U and the policy of international cooperation nourished by the United Nations. The Bush administration, which protects to act unilaterally with the help of its overwhelming military capability, should be encouraged to exercise self-restraint.

Within the U administration, there are hard-liners ready to use military force to preempt North Korea's exhibition of nuclear weapons. yet the cases of Iraq and North Korea are extremely different. We must through all means try to avoid a catastrophic scenario in which military threats escalate to the length of involving South Korea and Japan in conflict.

It is essential to convince North Korea that nuclear growth will not bring rewards. North Korea is demanding security guarantees for the regime of Kim Jong Il as well as economic assistance, however the scrapping of its nuclear program must originate first.

In Texas, Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush spoke about the ''global alliance'' between Japan and the U Mr Koizumi was simply the fifth leader to be invited to the president's private ranch in Texas, following the leaders of Russia, Britain, Australia and Spain. The extraordinary hospitality probably was an expression of appreciation for Prime Minister Koizumi's early present to view of support for the war in Iraq.

Mr Koizumi also became the first Japanese prime minister at any time to be invited to attend a regular intelligence briefing by the agency of the National Security Council. President Bush emphasized that this invitation was a manifestation of the might of their bonds in the alliance. That the brace leaders consolidated their relations of mutual trust is welcome.

Large divisions appeared in the international community throughout the Iraq war. unless the U.N. Security Council has decided to lift the economic sanctions against Iraq, thus paving the way for its reconstruction, which can be best achieved within an international framework of endeavors. The stronger ties connected between the leaders of Japan and the U should be levy to effective use in these efforts, including the solution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

(May 31)

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