VARIOUS: North Korea's ambassador to Australia on Tuesday (October 10) said he couldn't rule out his country testing another nuclear weapon concern on the streets of Japan and South Korea

North Korea's ambassador to Australia on Tuesday (October 10) said he couldn't rule out his country testing another nuclear weapon. Ambassador Chon Jae Hong was surrounded by reporters peppering him with questions as he arrived at the office of Austyralian foreign minister Alexander Downer. Asked repeatedly by reporters whether North Korea would carry out another atomic test, Chon said, "It would depend on national interest and security of our nation." In response to questions as to why Pyongyang carried out Monday's test in the first place, Chon blamed what North Korea perceives as American aggression. "We (are) under intense threat from United States, of the nuclear war," he said. After the meeting, Downer told reporters he summoned Chon to his office to protest Pyongyang's actions. "I told him that this wouldn't improve North Korea's security, on the contrary this action of North Korea's has led to a deterioration of the security environment of North Asia." Downer also said that North Korea "humiliated China" by carrying out a nuclear test in defiance of Beijing's requests to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions. 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. Downer said, "It was one thing to be offensive to the United States, Britain and Australia and their allies. But it is another thing to treat the Chinese, who have been such stalwart supporters of North Korea for such a long time, in this way." World powers condemned North Korea on Monday after it said it had conducted its first underground nuclear test, and Washington sought harsh U.N. sanctions that could further isolate the communist state. Downer said that Australia strongly supports efforts to impose strict sanctions on North Korea and itself would be halting granting any visas to North Koreans in the future. Japan is also considering additional sanctions against North Korea. The Cabinet met in emergency session on Tuesday morning with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who's just returned from a trip to China and South Korea. After the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said, "North Korea's act is a very important challenge to the security of our nation. It is also a great threat to the peace and stability of East Asia and the international community." On the streets of Tokyo, there was anger and concern, at the new threat facing them. "I feel a strong sense of crisis. We can't tell what North Korea do next," said Hiromi Furukawa, a 40-year-old company employee on his way to work. "I am very surprised for it had been an unthinkable thing for me. It is a bit scary," said Mariko Muto, a 30-year old Tokyo resident. TheTokyo stock market, which was closed on Monday (October 9) for a national holiday when Pyongyang said it conducted its nuclear test, reopened on Tuesday on a calmer note. The Nikkei average reversed opening losses to rise 0.46 percent as investors took quickly in their stride security concerns. In South Korea, a government spokesman said President Roh Moo-hyun would have reconsider Seoul's policy of engagement with the North, known as the 'sunshine policy'. South Koreans continued their daily routines, but voiced anger at their northern neighnour's actions. Jung Min-hong said it's time for his government to drop the 'sunshine policy'. "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," said the 48-year-old. 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

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