VARIOUS: Flurry of diplomatic meetings held across Asia as leaders try to decide what to do next about North Korea and how to prevent a nuclear arms race in Asia

South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun called in his predecessors on Tuesday (October 10) to help him decide how to prevent a nuclear arms race in Asia. At the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, Roh held emergency talks with former presidents Kim Dae-jung (1997-2002), who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for holding an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Young-sam (1993-1998) and Chun Doo-hwan (1981-1986). "If I listen to my elders, who have good thoughts, won't we be able to manage it well?" Roh said as the leaders sat down for talks. Roh has followed Kim Dae-jung's so-called "Sunshine Policy" of positive engagement with North Korea. South Korea's efforts to build economic and social ties with the North, have drawn criticism from key allies such as the U.S. and Japan. Now, in light of North Korea's actions, that policy is being reviewed. "It's true that with the nuclear test results, a reconsideration of our engagement policy is needed, but we should take some time to judge the righteousness or error of the engagement policy, which has received criticism that it brought forth the nuclear test," presidential spokesman Yoon Tae-young quoted Roh as saying. Analysts have said because of its cultural ties to the North and being directly in the firing line of its massive military, South Korea has few alternatives other than engagement. South Korean Defence Minister also vowed to step up its defences. "Under the position that the possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea is unacceptable, our basic position is that we will take strong and cool-headed measures under current circumstances," said South Korean Defence Minister Yoon Kwang-ung during a meeting with defence ministry and military officials held at the Ministry headquarters on Tuesday morning. One day after it's defiant announcement it had defied the international community and carried out an atomic test, North Korea sent mixed messages on Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency quoted a North Korean official as saying North Korea is willing to end its nuclear programme and return to six-party talks on the issue if the United States reciprocates. But he added Pyongyang was prepared to put nuclear warheads on missiles and conduct additional nuclear tests "depending on how the situation develops." North Korean studies professor Kang Sung-yoon at Dongguk University in Seoul, believes it is a possibility that Pyongyang could attempt carry out a nuclear explosion again. He said, "We cannot disregard the possibility of an additional nuclear test. But in regards to a future North Korean nuclear test, it depends on the response by the international community, and that it will decide if a nuclear test will continue," said Professor Kang Sung-yoon. On the streets of Seoul, people expressed anger over the news, and fear of the repercussions. Around 20 protesters burnt North Korean flags and models of missiles and shouted anti-north slogans like "Down with King Jong-il", denouncing North Korea's leader. Early morning commuters, voiced their anger more quietly, like businessman Jung Min-hong, who said it's time for Seoul to get tough with their northern neighbour. "We have been dealing with North Korea in a soft way, but from now on we cannot handle them with the engagement approach. We should cope with this situation in a very stern attitude," he said. There's some speculation that Pyongyang chose yesterday to carry out its test to coincide with the United Nations Security Council vote to approve South Korean Foreign Minister Ban-Ki-moon as the next Secretary-General of the world body. Ban has pledged to visit North Korea when he becomes the U.N. chief, and to work to kick-start stalled six-party talks. South Koreans are proud of their foreign minister, and hope he will be able to use his weight in the region to resolve the long-running crisis. "I hope that the six-way talks will work and Ban Ki-moon will do well so that our people will be safe and I hope that he also co-operates with the U.S," 64-year-old Moon Nak-yeon said. Over in Japan, where residents are also fearful and nervous about what will happen next, military planes flew overhead collecting air samples. Scientists are trying to verify the authenticity of Pyongyang's nuclear claim by determining radioactivity levels in the air. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan will slap further sanctions on North Korea if it can confirm the atomic test was real. With speculation North Korea's actions could spark an Asian nuclear arms race, Abe sought to soothe fears Japan would attempt to develop a nuclear weapons programme. "Japan has never considered going nuclear as an option, and this policy will never change. I'd like to make it clear that Japan's principles of not having, not producing, and not letting anybody bring in nuclear weapons will never change," Abe declared. China, Pyongyang's strongest political and economic backer, denounced the test on Monday as "brazen", and urged North Korea to avoid action that could worsen the situation. But in Beijing, some commuters seemed resigned to the idea of a nuclear build-up around the world. "If you look at the whole international picture, the rise of Japan is unavoidable. And multi-polarisation is unavoidable. So everyone will mostly likely get (nuclear weapons), for example Iran and North Korea," said Liang Dongsheng (pron: lee-ahng dohng shuhng), who had only heard of the test Tuesday morning. Just what shape China's future policy towards the North will take remains unclear. Chinese analysts said Beijing, the closest thing Pyongyang has to an ally, was likely to go along with international sanctions although it would stop short of backing military action for fear of sparking regional instability.

ITN Source | October 10, 2006

Tags:. .missiles. .error. .criticism. .principles. .sanctions