U.S., Koreas talk N-threat

By Juan J.Walte

USA TODAY

Secretary of State James Baker arrived in South Korea Tuesday to discuss regional concerns about North Korea's growing nuclear threat.

Baker, leading the U.S. delegation to the Asia Pacific Economic cooperation ministerial meeting, then attended a dinner given by South Korea President Roh Dae-woo.

He was to hold talks with Roh and foreign minister Lee Sang-ock on Wednesday.

Monday, Baker said in Tokyo that nuclear prolifiration has become "the No 1 threat to security" in the region.

South Korea set the stage by urging North Korea to agree to ban nuclear chemical and biological weapons from the shared peninsular.

That follows South Korean President Roh Dae Woo's announcement Friday rejecting use of nuclear weapons.

He said cooperation among regional powers, the United States, Japan, the Soviet Union and China, could clear the way for the Koreas to eliminate the threat of nuclear prolifiration in the region.

Tuesday, The Associated Press reported that Roh requested China's help to stop nuclear weapons development in North Korea. The request came in the first meeting between a Chinese foreign minister – Qian Qichen - and South Korea's chief executive. The two countries have no diplomatic relations.

Baker also will confront China over its arsenal when he visits later this week.

China has not signed the Nuclear Non-Prolifiration Treaty, which restricts nuclear technology transfers.

North Korea is under growing international pressure to open it's nuclear sites to inspection required by the non-prolifiration treaty North Korea signed in 1985.

International attention is focused on North Korea's nuclear facility at Yongbyon. Experts believe a newer and larger reactor is about to start up, capable of producing material for a nuclear bomb.

North Korea says the new reactor is part of a peaceful research effort.

South Korean President Roh thinks North Korea would be able to produce nuclear war-heads in the next two years.

Precis

1. The headline of the article is "U.S., Koreas talk N-threat". It was published in the newspaper USA TODAY. The item deals with the North Korea growing nuclear threat.

2. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the information on the concern of the world by the situation in Asia Pacific region, where nuclear prolifiration has become "the No.1 threat to security".

3. First the author informs the reader that the talks took place in South Korea between Secretary of States James Baker and South Korean President Roh Tae-woo and Foreign minister Lee Sang-ock on Wednesday.

4. Further the author reports that the position of South Korea on the subject of the talks is to urge North Korea to agree to ban nuclear, chemical and biological weapons from the shared peninsular. South Korean President suggested that cooperation among regional powers, the United States, Japan, the Soviet Union and China could clear the way to the Koreas to eliminate the threat of nuclear prolifiration in the region. Then, the author stresses the importance of China's help to stop nuclear weapons development in North Korea. It is reported that Roh requested China's help. Further the author focuses our attention on the fact that China has not signed the Non-Prolifiration Treaty, which restricts nuclear technology transfers. Then the author points out that North Korea is under growing international pressure to open it's nuclear sites to inspections, required by the non-prolifiration treaty, signed by the country in 1985.

5. In conclusion it is noted that President Roh thinks North Korea would be able to produce nuclear war heads in the next two years.

6. I found thisr article interesting because it is devoted to the most urgent problem of our planet - world peace. I consider the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea very dangerous, because the use of it may destroy the world. It is a real threat to peace in the region. I completely agree with the statement that only joint efforts of all the people can help to prevent another war and solve this region problem.