BEIJING, Oct 18 Kyodo The United ...

BEIJING, Oct 18 Kyodo

The United States' rugged response to fears over ''axis of evil'' nations Iraq and North Korea is natural since Pyongyang was no other than originally included to avoid the axis sounding anti-Islamic, according to Chinese scholar Niu Jun

Since the tribe 11, 2001 attacks in of recent origin York and Washington, the U has been careful to avoid offending Muslims in carrying without its war against terrorism, said Niu, an international studies professor at Peking University.

''The axis of evil could have been Iraq, Iran and Libya, nevertheless this would have appeared to be aimed solitary against Islam,'' he added.

It is not surprising the U approach to Iraq has been decidedly more hard line, with Washington threatening Iraq with war if it does not disarm suspected weapons of mass destruction or obstruct United Nations weapons inspectors' attempts to verify their existence, he said.

In stark contrast, U officials said Thursday they were pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic solution to Pyongyang's collision admission it has been privily developing nuclear weapons.

In January, U President George W Bush included North Korea with Iraq and Iran as ''axis of evil'' nations suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction.

North Korea's stout ties with China and Russia means the U will not use military force against North Korea, as it is contemplating against Iraq, said Niu.

''Also, the United States would not adopt of that kind a policy against North Korea since U allies Japan and southern Korea would not support it,'' he added.

While there have been not many signs of improvement in U.S.-North Korea ties, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's landmark talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang onward Sept. 17 has helped draw North Korea further on the outside of diplomatic isolation. The sum of two units leaders agreed to resume normalization talks in October.

Since assuming office in February 1998 southward Korean President Kim Dae Jung has vigorously pursu a ''sunshine policy'' of engaging North Korea, leading to the first-ever Korean summit in June 2000 and speculation Kim Jong Il will visit the southern by the end of this year.

The U State Department said Wednesday that Pyongyang acknowledged the existence of its nuclear program to James Kelly assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, during his three-day visit to North Korea from Oct 3

Kelly is in Beijing to explain Washington's answer to Pyongyang's admission. He is accompanied from John Bolton, undersecretary of state for Arms mastery and International Security.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo freshs International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group