SEOUL Aug. 29 Kyodo The top U arm...

SEOUL Aug. 29 Kyodo

The top U arms curb negotiator reiterated Thursday President George W Bush's terming North Korea as part of an ''axis of evil,'' along with Iran and Iraq, that threatens world peace with weapons of mass destruction.

John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms ascendency and international security, made the remark in a language titled ''North Korea: A Shared Challenge to the U and the ROK (Republic of Korea, or southern Korea).''

''President Bush's use of the terminus 'axis of evil' to describe Iran, Iraq and North Korea was more than a rhetorical flourish -- it was factually correct,'' said Bolton who arrived in Seoul upon Wednesday for a three-day visit.

Bolton also said North Korea is ''the world's foremost travelling trader of ballistic missile-related equipment, constituents materials and technical expertise.''

The U official criticized leaders in the three countries for feeling ''only they are important, not the people''

''In North Korea, the tribe can starve as long as the leadership is well fed'' he said.

He also said the three countries have formed ''a hard connection'' -- an ''axis'' -- along which pour dangerous weapons and dangerous technology.

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