Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI578
2005-02-15 23:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TAIPEI 000578
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA
"`Axis of Evil' Defying U.S. on Nuclear Proliferation"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" said in an editorial (2/15):
"North Korea is now the world's No. 8 nuclear power, if
its claim is true. This poses a direct challenge to
U.S. President W. Bush, who has pledged to confront
tyrannical regimes that promoted terror and pursued the
development of weapons of mass destruction. .
"By heightening the stakes, Pyongyang appears to be
gambling that Washington and its allies will ultimately
accept the idea of a nuclear North Korea.
"So far, brinkmanship has worked well for the North
Koreas. Since the crisis erupted in 2002, Pyongyang
has carefully crossed U.S. red lines, with little
apparent consequence. .
"Regional resistance to a military strike against the
North has mounted in the past year - and to many in the
region, the idea of a nuclear North Korea is simply not
as shocking as it once was. .
"America has little appetite for making concessions to
North Korea. If the talks do not resume, the Bush
administration could face a tough struggle to get the
issue before the U.N. Security Council, where China
holds a veto."
PAAL
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA
"`Axis of Evil' Defying U.S. on Nuclear Proliferation"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" said in an editorial (2/15):
"North Korea is now the world's No. 8 nuclear power, if
its claim is true. This poses a direct challenge to
U.S. President W. Bush, who has pledged to confront
tyrannical regimes that promoted terror and pursued the
development of weapons of mass destruction. .
"By heightening the stakes, Pyongyang appears to be
gambling that Washington and its allies will ultimately
accept the idea of a nuclear North Korea.
"So far, brinkmanship has worked well for the North
Koreas. Since the crisis erupted in 2002, Pyongyang
has carefully crossed U.S. red lines, with little
apparent consequence. .
"Regional resistance to a military strike against the
North has mounted in the past year - and to many in the
region, the idea of a nuclear North Korea is simply not
as shocking as it once was. .
"America has little appetite for making concessions to
North Korea. If the talks do not resume, the Bush
administration could face a tough struggle to get the
issue before the U.N. Security Council, where China
holds a veto."
PAAL