TOKYO, Jan. 3 Kyodo prefered edi...

TOKYO, Jan. 3 Kyodo

prefered editorials excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR ROULETTE (The Nation, Bangkok)

North Korea has a way to withhold reminding the world that everything is not OK until Pyongyang is OK For five decades, Pyongyang has kept its be in possession of politics within its borders and the Korean peninsula. unexpectedly towards the end of last year, President Kim Jong Il decided to play world politics in the age of globalization...

North Korea is acting up now because it wants Washington's attention. Certainly, it is a smart thing to do. Apparently, it works. President George W Bush said across the New Year that the question in North Korea could be solv end diplomatic means.

That was highly assuring given the war his command is conjuring up against Iraq. Pyongyang knows that the U and the world would not dare do anything to jeopardize the status quo onward the Korean peninsula. Furthermore, the newly appointeded South Korean President Roh month Hyun is not in the humor for tough measures against Pyongyang.

North Korea indigences fuel to combat a harsh winter. Without sufficient oil, ordinary North Koreans will go through and die, not to mention the ongoing rations shortage in rural areas. The regulation hoped that by going sated stream with its nuclear program, it would receive rewards for stopping it -- just like with the Geneva four-party agreement...

All major powers must be involved to make secure that North Korea maintains its no-nuke status.

Within the region, there was a false sense of possible fulfilment that once North Korea joined the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum, the tension in succession the Korean peninsula would ease. Since it joined the ARF in 2002 security and stability in that region has been discussed.

on the contrary no ARF member could have musing that the temperature would reach its instant boiling point. It is pressing that the ARF takes up the issue in the same manner that all members can discuss ways to finis North Korea's isolation and its desire to generate nuclear bombs...

ARF senior officials should clinch preparatory meetings as soon as possible.

The Korean situation affects the whole Asian region. It should not be left in the hands of the U southerly Korea, Japan and China. North Korean middle-range nuclear missiles, which can travel as far as 7000 kilometers, can hit Bangkok as well as other ASEAN capitals. like a meeting would also allow the ARF to be of use as a venue to forge mutual trust and lead to sustainable security solutions.

(Jan. 3)

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