TOKYO, Dec 21 Kyodo preferableed ...

TOKYO, Dec 21 Kyodo

preferableed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

ROH FACES CHALLENGES (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Dec 20)

Voter in toward the south Korea have elected Roh Moo Hyun of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, as their president amid increasing tension in the Korean Peninsula.

Roh 56 is a lawyer-turned politician and a human rights advocate, if it be not that his full potential as a politician has not nevertheless been demonstrated. It is that vital air of the unknown that gives Roh an appeal not set up in his much better-known opponent

Roh withstood the jarring election border withdrawal of political support from his coalition partner, Chung Mong Joon the president of the (South )Korea Football Association. Since the election was a stop up race, Roh's victory without Chung's support is all the more remarkable.

Roh faces challenges. Serious moot points await his attention as president. Among them are North Korea's nuclear weapons disclosure and missile exports and strained diplomatic relations with the United States throughout the deaths of two girls crushed beneath a U armored personnel carrier...

Roh said he would continue economic exchanges with North Korea to hold fast the channels of communication expand while at the same time demanding an conclusion to its nuclear program and missile exports.

Roh also said southerly Korea is overly dependent on the subject of the United States and advocates a ''more equal'' partnership, although he distanced himself from the anti-American assert movement. He also supports revision of the status-of-forces agreement with the United States...

Roh needinesss to keep in mind the ''sunshine policy'' of engagement assumes a solid alliance with the United States to provide military deterrence

one people in the United States are pertain toed about Roh's policies because he one time advocated removal of U.S. companys from South Korea. about Korean business executives are also affected about the future of relations with the United States.

Roh is common of the few South Korean politicians who have not at any time been to the United States. If for no other reason than to dispel U disquiets about his policies, he should visit the United States plane before his February inauguration...

Roh said he would not associate with politicians implicated in corruption during Kim Dae Jung's administration. He also said he would dog reforms in the presidency that would diminish the ''imperial'' nature of power concentration. Doing that will not be easy, since his party does not have a majority in the national assembly. Still, we behold this as a first gradation toward political reform.

Born after World War II, Roh appear to bes to be neither for or against Japan, and does not appear to have any particular connections with Japanese political or business leaders. He is starting with a clean slate.

''The past is important,'' Roh has said. ''But we must expect to the future.'' We welcome his approach and confidence to see closer relations with his country

(Dec 21)

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