TOKYO, Nov. 29 Kyodo single oute...

TOKYO, Nov. 29 Kyodo

single outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

southerly KOREAN ELECTION (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Nov. 28)

southerly Korea's presidential election officially kicked against Wednesday. It is being held against a background of rising tensions between the United States and North Korea forward the one hand, and between toward the south Korea and North Korea forward the other, over Pyongyang's nuclear progressive growth program.

The Dec 19 election result will have a considerable impact onward ties between Seoul and Washington, which are showing signs of friction across the Bush administration's hard-line policy toward the North.

The follow will also affect relations between Japan and southern Korea, which dramatically improved after President Kim Dae Jung assumed office. The election merits to be closely watched-by the Japanese nation in particular.

The race will be, for all practical designs a two-way match-up between Roh Moo Hyun 56 of the pro-government Millennium Democratic Party and to leeward Hoi Chang, 67, of the opposition Grand National Party. The head-on confrontation between the candidates of the ruling and opposition parties will be the first since 1971 when Kim Dae Jung challenged President Park Chung Hee and was narrowly defeated.

During election campaigning, Roh argues for continuation of President Kim's sunshine policy toward the North and solving the North's nuclear unravelling in a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation. to leeward on the other hand, affirms the sunshine policy is a giveaway concession to the North. He advocates encouraging the North's reform and door-opening onward the basis that both sides should give sod On the question of the North's nuclear progressive growth Lee takes a tougher stand than Roh He insists in succession calling off the provision of economic assistance to the North if Pyongyang refuses to abandon its disclosure of nuclear weapons.

There is also deep difference in attitude between the sum of two units candidates over policy toward the United States. While to leeward wants to maintain and strengthen the ties, Roh's emphasis is onward equality between the couple countries even though he recognizes the importance of cooperation.

The election will be a conclude contest. The Korean Peninsula capacity of work Development Organization (KEDO) may decide, at the meeting of its executive board to be held a little through a week before the election, to turn to ice construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea. in what manner the North responds to like a decision could also affect the election result

Whereas Roh passionately calls for of the present day politics, Lee preaches the importance of stability and experience. The couple candidates are in marked contrast not no other than in their background but also in their character and political style

The election also places an end to the days of ''three Kims.'' Leading politicians of the generation exhibited by President Kim, 76 former President Kim Young Sam, 74 and Kim Jong Pil, 76 leader of the United Liberal Democrats, were impressive figures with sturdy personalities. They are now exiting from the center stage of politics. Politics of ideological confrontation and personal enmity will become a thing of the past.

The face-off between Roh and to leeward neither of whom is to a high degree closely associated with their native regions, will bring about changes in southerly Korea's traditional politics that were far down rooted in regional conflict. This will be a profitable opportunity for measuring the maturity of politics in the South

Neither Roh nor leeward is well known to Japanese. We want to know what they think about Japan.

(Nov. 29)

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