Monday, 1 June 2009

SKorea: North's nuke test threatens world peace

SKorean president blasts North at Southeast Asian summit, says nuke test threatens world peace

Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press Writer
On Monday June 1, 2009

SEOGWIPO, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Southeast Asian leaders criticized North Korea's nuclear test, calling it on Monday a "provocation" that "seriously" threatens world peace and stability.

The North's recent atomic test took center stage at the opening of the summit on South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. The gathering was meant to focus on boosting growing economic cooperation and hail 20 years of relations between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

During the summit, Lee and Southeast Asian leaders agreed that the nuclear test is a "provocation clearly violating" a U.N. Security Council resolution and an international disarmament deal banning such activities, according to Lee's office.

The leaders said the test "seriously undermines" world stability and urged the regime to quickly return to stalled disarmament talks involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.

North Korea agreed in 2007 to disable its nuclear facilities in return for international energy aid and other benefits, but the negotiations have gone nowhere for months amid differences over how to verify the country's past nuclear activities.

North Korea's underground nuclear test and subsequent short-range missile tests last week have drawn a chorus of international criticism. Further escalating tension, the North was reportedly preparing to launch another long-range missile.

Lee also asked leaders of ASEAN countries, which all have diplomatic ties with both Koreas, to continue diplomatic efforts to get the North to return to the negotiating table.

Leaders at the summit plan to issue a statement Tuesday criticizing the test and calling for "swift, effective" measures from the U.N. Security Council, Lee Dong-kwan, Lee's spokesman said.

The statement will also urge the North to give up its nuclear program and return to stalled disarmament talks, he said.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong confirmed the plan, though he said he couldn't comment on its contents.

"We regret very much that North Korea" did "not respect" its agreement with the six parties as well as a Security Council resolution, he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also said earlier Monday that ASEAN countries want to help North Korea return to the talks and think a regional security gathering next month will be a good opportunity for dialogue.

The six parties -- as well as the 10 members of ASEAN, India, Pakistan, Australia, the European Union and others -- will meet at the ASEAN Regional Forum in July in Thailand, which holds ASEAN's rotating chair.

Abhisit told AP Television News that the six countries will "do what we can to make sure the talks resume."

Despite all of the attention paid to the North, economic cooperation was still on the agenda, with Lee and the ASEAN leaders agreeing to boost ties on many economic fronts in bilateral meetings.

The bloc consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

AP Television News producer Jerry Harmer and Associated Press writer Kelly Olsen contributed to this report.

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