More North Korea Nuclear Tests Worry Japan

More N. Korea Nuclear Tests Worry Japan
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer

Monday, October 23, 2006

(10-23) 23:31 PDT TOKYO, Japan (AP) --

Japan's foreign minister warned Tuesday there was a possibility of more nuclear tests by North Korea and expressed pessimism that the North would return to disarmament talks soon.

Taro Aso praised China for sending top diplomats to Pyongyang last week for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, but added "that does not mean we can be optimistic about North Korea's nuclear abandonment or a return to the six-party talks."

Aso, speaking to a parliamentary defense and foreign affairs committee, said Japan had to be prepared for the possibility of "second and third nuclear tests" by North Korea, which carried out its first nuclear test on Oct. 9.

"As long as I remember, no country has halted nuclear tests after the first one," Aso said. "It's only common sense to assume there would be a second and a third."

Beijing has not released details on a trip by Chinese diplomats to Pyongyang, and there have been conflicting reports about the outcome of those talks.

South Korean media reported last week that Kim expressed regret for carrying out the nuclear test, ruling out the possibility for further tests and hinting at an intention to return to arms talks.

Other reports have said that China was not optimistic that North Korea will end its nuclear program or rejoin disarmament talks soon.

North Korea has shown no public signs of backing down since its test, even after the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions against Pyongyang.

Aso said the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program among the two Koreas, China, Japan, the United States and Russia remain the best framework for resolving the standoff, and called on North Korea to return "unconditionally."

The U.S. has sought to cut off the North's access to international banking as punishment for alleged currency counterfeiting and other illicit activity.

Pyongyang denies the charges and has boycotted the six-nation talks until the U.S. ends the crackdown.

Reference : http://sfgate.com/