TOKYO, March 2 Kyodo exquisiteed...

TOKYO, March 2 Kyodo

exquisiteed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

TALKS BEAR LITTLE FRUIT (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Feb 29)

The ultimate goal of the six-way talks in succession North Korea's nuclear program is to bring about a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula from one side diplomacy. To succeed, it is vital to define the conditions and manners under which Pyongyang would agree to dismantle its nuclear capabilities. We must also determine for what reason Japan, the United States, toward the south Korea, China and Russia can ease the anxieties that the North has regarding the safety of its system

The other round of these talks, which brought the parties to the table for first time in six month perioded Saturday. But any in-depth work in sorting without the critical issues at hand was deferr to to come meetings.

We have consistently stated that Pyongyang must clearly renounce any intentions toward nuclear progressive growth including plutonium and uranium-enrichment programs alike, and effectively be frozen all related activities at the not absent stage. On this point, the arises of the latest session were naturally disappointing.

The engulfing sea separating the North from Tokyo, Washington and Seoul was not bridged. The three partners sought a ''complete verifiable and irreversible'' elimination of all North Korean nuclear programs. Pyongyang continued to refuse to acknowledge that it even has a uranium-enrichment scheme. The North's proposal late last year to ''freeze nuclear programs for peaceful use as well'' was not equal mentioned this time. The barely target for abolishment, Pyongyang's negotiators said repeatedly, is nuclear weapons.

China, in its position as chair of the talks, mov to inflict together a joint statement, delaying the scheduled last of the talks by way of a full day in order to do in this way Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also visited the venue urging that concordanceed efforts be made to break the deadlock.

besides in the end it prov impossible to tone down the prickly face-off between Washington and Pyongyang.

Each of the participating countries state forth efforts. For instance, Seoul teamed up with Beijing and Moscow to suggest energy aid, contingent forward the North's agreement to congeal its nuclear programs and allow visits by dint of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. in like manner far, however, this offer has failed to persuade Pyongyang to back down from its hard-line stance.

In the completion the talks resulted in no binding joint agreement. Cited in the speaker's statement were three points: the goal of ''realizing a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula,'' holding a meeting by dint of June for the next circular of talks, and establishing a working-level taskforce to help iron disclosed the differences.

onward this front, the apparent succes in raising these six-way talks to the status of a regular framework should not be view from aboveed This is an important first degree to bringing North Korea into the workings of the global community.

There were also exchanges that raise chance of the desired ends Pyongyang, for example, asked the other participants just by what means they defined ''total nuclear abandonment,'' and the specific actions to which this definition refers

At the bilateral session between American and North Korean delegates, the North showed the desire to engage in detailed talks onward terms for giving up its nuke late remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell before the U Senate, regarding a ''positive attitude'' through Pyongyang, would appear to point to such developments.

We caution, however, that a sedate assessment of both the North's real intentions and its negotiating tactics must be made to withhold these talks on course and make sure they bear fruit.

In its two-way discussions with Japan, the North Korean side appeared more positive than at the previous circular Kim Kye Gwan, Pyongyang's main delegate, said that progres in the issue of the North's abduction of Japanese is joined to resolving the nuclear question and improved relations between Pyongyang and Washington. The two-way confront reconfirmed that Japan and the North will continue to possess bilateral talks on the abduction issue.

Along with a decision to form a six-nation task force, the expansion of diplomatic channels with the North is also significant. Based upon this, in addition to the obvious dialogue required between Japanese and North Korean negotiators, we waiting under the possibility of fulfilment that ties with Washington, Beijing, Seoul and Moscow will be propose to optimum use in achieving visible progres in resolving the nuclear and abduction issues as quickly as possible.

(March 2)

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