Posted on 11/16/2006 3:08:24 PM PST by MadIvan
President Bush today warned North Korea not to share its nuclear knowledge with other countries or with terrorist groups, saying such an act would be considered a grave threat to the US.
Tackling the problem of North Korea, which tested a nuclear weapon for the first time in October but has since shown a willingness to return to international talks, is at the top of the agenda on Mr Bush's current tour of Asia.
Speaking on the first stage of his trip, in Singapore, Mr Bush urged Asian leaders to stay firm in the face of provocation from North Korea and to enforce the UN Security Resolution passed in the days after the nuclear test. The resolution allows UN members to inspect cargo coming to and from the erratic, Stalinist state, but since its passing, South Korea, a key US ally, has balked at the idea.
"The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States and we would hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences of such action," said Mr Bush at the National University of Singapore.
"For the sake of peace, it is vital that the nations of this region send a message to North Korea that the proliferation of nuclear technology to hostile regimes or terrorist networks will not be tolerated," he said.
Mr Bush is being accompanied on his three-nation, eight-day Asian tour by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. Their next stop is a summit of the 21-nation Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Vietnam, where Mr Bush is planning to hold bilateral talks with leaders including Vladimir Putin of Russia, Hu Jintao of China and the new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
Today, Ms Rice spent the day in talks with Apec foreign ministers, discussing what has been described as a "carrots and sticks" policy to coax North Korea back into the international fold.
Mr Bush said that the ministers were committed to reviving the Six Party Talks, which failed a year ago when North Korea stormed out to protest US attempts to crack down on its money laundering. He said that the five countries — China, Russia, Japan the US and South Korea — charged with negotiating with Pyongyang were "speaking with one voice."
"The only way for North Korea to move forward, for the good of their people, is to abandon its nuclear weapons programs and rejoin the international community," he said.
In general remarks, Mr Bush stressed that America's long-term interests in Asia remained as strong ever, despite the growing power and increasingly activist foreign policy of China and his Republican party's chastening experience at the hands of American voters last week.
"We must maintain our presence in the Pacific. We must seize on our common opportunities. We must be willing to confront our common threats. And we must help our partners build more hopeful societies throughout this vital part of the world," he said.
# French customs officers today searched a North Korean ship in the small Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry declined to name the ship, its destination or cargo, but said officers were carrying out "a complete and thorough inspection of merchandise and personnel" on the small island between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique. It appeared to be the first time that France had inspected a North Korean ship since the passing of the UN Security Council resolution last month.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Somehow I think the North Koreans aren't taking the West seriously these days.
------
After watching what the voters did to this country, they are not listening at all --- they don't have to anymore.
Unbelievable.
I used to respect Bush, but now....what a pussy.
Why would they?
"Now don't do that, don't develop nuclear weapons"
"Oh you did. Well, don't tell anyone else how to..."
Too late, Jimmah shared his address book with them when he and Maddie sold the farm to NK
We did this to the Islamofascists and we got 9/11 in return.
A bunch of us are gonna get killed because the world no longer believes the US has a spine.
. And we must help our partners build more hopeful societies throughout this vital part of the world," he said
how much will this one sentence cost us?
Right.
I'm sure that at this very minute, Kim Do Boy is saying to himself....
Someone say something?
Somehow I think the North Koreans aren't taking the West seriously these days.
Most other nations also making that mistake.
I wish he'd stop threatening NK & Iran
if he doesn't have the balls to back
up his threats with action...He just
ends up looking like a little p*ssy
Democrat when they laugh and call his
bluff....again...and again...and again...
"Most other nations also making that mistake."
Is it a mistake? Or are they reading things correctly. I can't help but wonder about it. Nothing forceful, or consequential has been undertaken. Did I miss something?
You're giving up too soon. He'll Double Dog Dare them any day now.
The headline needs an Empty Rhetoric Alert.
No kidding. I really wish he would just shut his damn mouth about this already. Unless he wants to screw things up even more.
Bush may be trying to provoke Kim Jung Il into stepping over the line. We all forget that POTUS has strategic options rarely thought viable in contemporary times.Pyong Yang could easily be rendered into a largr black hole, glowing red in the otherwide completely Black Sat photos of N. Korea, we are all familiar with.
Also few remember how the shocking victory of our troops in taking Iraq had Kim Jong Il faxing and sucking up to his allies and the Party of Six Nations shortly after Bagdhad fell.It worked on Momar Khadafi. So what Bushie is doing is not empty. If Kim Jong Il is provokable and does something really foolish, he is one piece of dead meat.
We have a President who is constant in his attitude to totalitarians and fascists. I support him 100%.
I think they will, Ivan. And soon............FRegards
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