Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN7742
2006-10-11 05:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #7742 2840512 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 110512Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4772 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0450 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1381 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 007742
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON NORTH KOREA
Editorial Commentary
-- "Will the world coexist with nuclear Korea?"
Columnist Mohammad Kharroub writes on the op-ed page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/10): "The North
Korean nuclear issue is different from its Indian and Pakistani
counterparts who are considered the last to snatch their membership
in the six-country nuclear club. India and Pakistan are waging a
feverish battle of armament and they are arch enemies working hard
to build a huge arsenal against one another in a manner that could
be considered an internal war.... North Korea is something
completely different. That is why the nuclear test explosion was
shocking and surprising, and it even ridiculed the expectations that
believed that Korean announcement of the nuclear test was just a
test balloon aimed at improving negotiating conditions with
Washington.... The least that can be said is that North Korea
re-wrote the world's agenda and imposed on the five member countries
in the nuclear club to re-read the issue, forcing them to come off
their high horses and exposing the master of the White House,
especially in view of the massive failure of the policies of force,
wars and pre-emptive strikes. As 'a war leader,' [the U.S.
President] failed to stop North Korea, and Iran, from going ahead
with their nuclear programs.... Will the world coexist with one of
the countries of the axis of evil going nuclear? The indications
say yes it will, although North Korea will pay a huge price, but now
it does have the opportunity to acquire more benefits and incentives
without having to lose or abandon its program."
-- "Hope for peaceful resolution"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (10/09) editorializes:
"The fact that North Korea has openly declared its intention to test
a nuclear device ahead of time, knowing all too well that it would
invite a chorus of condemnation, gives way to speculation. Is it
merely bluffing to extricate from Western countries concessions
denied in the past or is the regime intent on flexing muscles in an
already jittery neighborhood? Reviewing things, as recently as
September 2005, North Korea agreed to give up nuclear testing in
return for some incentive, including a reactor for civilian use.
Immediately thereafter, the US imposed financial sanctions on the
country. Matters continued to deteriorate between North Korea and
Washington when North Korea test fired seven missiles last July.
Then, last week, North Korea again raised the stakes by announcing
its intention to test a nuclear device. It seems that North Korea
is trying to tell something to the US and its partners in the
so-called six-party talks on the country's nuclear program. Yet the
ease with which North Korea expressed readiness to renounce its
nuclear plans only a year ago may be an indication that convincing
it, again, to stop testing on a quid pro quo basis would not be that
difficult. It is hoped that the international community has not
heard the last word from North Korea and that peaceful options are
still available, provided there is willingness across the board to
resort to them."
RUBINSTEIN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON NORTH KOREA
Editorial Commentary
-- "Will the world coexist with nuclear Korea?"
Columnist Mohammad Kharroub writes on the op-ed page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/10): "The North
Korean nuclear issue is different from its Indian and Pakistani
counterparts who are considered the last to snatch their membership
in the six-country nuclear club. India and Pakistan are waging a
feverish battle of armament and they are arch enemies working hard
to build a huge arsenal against one another in a manner that could
be considered an internal war.... North Korea is something
completely different. That is why the nuclear test explosion was
shocking and surprising, and it even ridiculed the expectations that
believed that Korean announcement of the nuclear test was just a
test balloon aimed at improving negotiating conditions with
Washington.... The least that can be said is that North Korea
re-wrote the world's agenda and imposed on the five member countries
in the nuclear club to re-read the issue, forcing them to come off
their high horses and exposing the master of the White House,
especially in view of the massive failure of the policies of force,
wars and pre-emptive strikes. As 'a war leader,' [the U.S.
President] failed to stop North Korea, and Iran, from going ahead
with their nuclear programs.... Will the world coexist with one of
the countries of the axis of evil going nuclear? The indications
say yes it will, although North Korea will pay a huge price, but now
it does have the opportunity to acquire more benefits and incentives
without having to lose or abandon its program."
-- "Hope for peaceful resolution"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (10/09) editorializes:
"The fact that North Korea has openly declared its intention to test
a nuclear device ahead of time, knowing all too well that it would
invite a chorus of condemnation, gives way to speculation. Is it
merely bluffing to extricate from Western countries concessions
denied in the past or is the regime intent on flexing muscles in an
already jittery neighborhood? Reviewing things, as recently as
September 2005, North Korea agreed to give up nuclear testing in
return for some incentive, including a reactor for civilian use.
Immediately thereafter, the US imposed financial sanctions on the
country. Matters continued to deteriorate between North Korea and
Washington when North Korea test fired seven missiles last July.
Then, last week, North Korea again raised the stakes by announcing
its intention to test a nuclear device. It seems that North Korea
is trying to tell something to the US and its partners in the
so-called six-party talks on the country's nuclear program. Yet the
ease with which North Korea expressed readiness to renounce its
nuclear plans only a year ago may be an indication that convincing
it, again, to stop testing on a quid pro quo basis would not be that
difficult. It is hoped that the international community has not
heard the last word from North Korea and that peaceful options are
still available, provided there is willingness across the board to
resort to them."
RUBINSTEIN