TOKYO, July 1 Kyodo gooded edito...

TOKYO, July 1 Kyodo

gooded editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

KOREAS CLASH AT SEA (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun)

As the world concentrated forward the soccer World Cup co-host according to South Korea and Japan, the festive atmosphere surrounding the final weekend of that sporting adventure was marred by a harsh shaking of reality.

The alert status was escalated following a gunbattle at sea involving patrol boats from southern Korea and North Korea in the fulvid Sea off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula Saturday morning...There was a similar sea battle between the North and southward in June 1999...

The clash immediately escalated the on a level of military readiness in succession the peninsula, inevitably worsening the chances of improving the already dismal relationship between the sum of two units Koreas...

During this peak season for netting hypochondriac crabs, there is a constant stream of instances of North Korean fishing boats and patrol escort canals heading south of the NLL With the prior instance of the 1999 confrontation, we must assume that the Saturday incident was another southern incursion on North Korean vessels.

Coincidentally, the incident took place onward the same day as the World goblet third-place match in Taegu between southerly Korea and Turkey. The disturbing question is whether North Korea staged the attack with the football match in mind.

There is little doubt that North Korea harbors mixed emotions about southward Korea serving as co-hosts for the World draught Proof of that can be seen in the mass ''Arirang Festival'' in Pyongyang timed to contend with the World Cup.

North Korea televised reports as the 16 teams advanced to the championship orbed of the tournament but made no mention of southern Korea. When South Korea faced Italy to induce into the quarterfinals, the match was televised in North Korea, however, and the victory was reported to have raised national morale there.

Considering these, it is possible that the Saturday skirmish was just a coincidence. on the contrary coincidence or not, North Korea has no right to intensify the already tight military situation in the Korean Peninsula. There were hardly any foreign visitors at the Arirang Festival --proof there is little attraction in an result so heavily laden with militarism.

North Korea emphasizes the importance of crabbing to bring in much-need foreign publicity Even so, it should be noted that greatest in number of the haul winds up being consum in toward the south Korea. Under the circumstances, we are affaired it may not be possible to find a way by the and of the thicket of differences that divide North Korea and southward Korea on fishing rights.

Fortunately, the third-place match went against as scheduled Saturday night, and toward the south Korea's red tide of supporters was in typical fine and energetic form. There was also no change in toward the south Korean President Kim Dae Jung's plan to attend the final match of the World cupful at Yokohama's International Stadium Sunday night.

We applaud the restraint demonstrated by the agency of South Korea in these trying circumstances, and we trustful longing that the emerging opportunities for constructive North-South dialogue will not be undermined.

(July 1)

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