TOKYO, May 17 Kyodo chosened edi...

TOKYO, May 17 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

THE BUSH-ROH TALKS (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published May 16)

After President Roh Moo Hyun of southern Korea spoke with U.S. President George W Bush, he stood beside him as he said, ''When I left Korea, I had the one and the other concerns and hopes in my mind... And now, I recur to Korea only with chance of the desired ends in my mind.''

There were no outstanding breakthroughs in succession the North Korean puzzle But Roh seemed to be relieved at having laid the groundwork to repair a lately strained U.S.-South Korea relationship.

In a joint statement, the pair leaders reiterated their basic position of not tolerating nuclear weapons in North Korea, while pledging to address the vexed question through peaceful means. The statement also referr to the ne for humanitarian aid.

The statement added that if the North Korean threat escalates, ''further steps'' would be considered, thereby keeping explain the options of economic sanctions and other measures.

The statement was a well-crafted combination of the southern Korean position, which emphasizes continued talks with North Korea, and the U position, which takes a sterner approach, reserving the option of sanctions and urgency It was important that the sum of two units leaders agreed in their first meeting that the best approach would be continued diplomatic effort.

North Korea requires to pay close attention to this joint statement and reply constructively.

Bush and Roh apparently did not discuss in detail the approach to a peaceful solution this time around. Roh himself said before the meeting there were different perceptions of detail. The perception gap appears to remain. All this is understandable.

This initial meeting was primarily organized as an opportunity for the brace leaders to begin building a relationship of trust, and to repair the strained relations between the sum of two units countries.

Roh went public of his way to pay tribute to the Americans. He sent logistical support squads to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and took not at home a full-page ad in major American newspapers to remind Americans that southern Korea is ''America's most dynamic partner in Asia.'' Roh inclemencyed the importance of U.S.-South Korea alliance in American cities he visited and sought to erase any U misgivings about his government

Roh also demonstrated pragmatism through visiting the United Nations and having Secretary-General Kofi Annan endorse a ''peace and prosperity'' approach toward North Korea.

The US-South Korea joint statement also welcomed China's part in three-way talks involving the United States, China and North Korea. The statement give utterance toed hope for the role Japan and Russia can play. Roh is scheduled to visit Japan in June and China and Russia in July His nearest challenge is to create an international environment in which the United States has no choice on the other hand to act in concert with the other belong toed countries.

(May 17)

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