Saturday, Feb 12, 2005
Saturday, Feb 12, 2005 |
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By P. S. Suryanarayana
SINGAPORE, FEB. 11. The international community is expecting China to exert pressure on North Korea following the latter's claims that it had "manufactured" nuclear weapons and that it would pull out of the six-party talks on the issue for an "indefinite period." The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, said in Canberra today "it would be foolish for us to assume that the announcement ... is all bluff". "There is probably an element of bluff in it. It makes the situation more fraught and it puts an even greater responsibility on countries that can exert influence on North Korea. And, China is one of them to try and do that, and we will certainly be putting that view to the Chinese in the appropriate way." Mr. Howard's suggestion about the centrality of China, host to the now-stalled six-party talks, acquires importance in view of Australia's position as a prominent player in the Asia-Pacific region on matters concerning North Korea. He said: "Now, to-date, there has been tremendous cooperation between China and America and Japan and South Korea and others in order to try and engage the North Koreans." The "others" include Russia. In his view, China would need to be sounded out specially in the new context. A view fast gaining currency in the East Asian diplomatic circles is that the U.S., too, may have to look to China for breaking the logjam. China, however, has not yet revealed its diplomatic cards. South Korea, after first expressing "surprise" over Pyongyang's move, today said North Korea had earlier talked of a "critical-mass" situation. Japan displayed a sense of urgency over the new crisis.
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