NORTH KOREA; ALAN GARCIA IN THE US; 10/11/06;BUENOS AIRES

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002293 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: NORTH KOREA; ALAN GARCIA IN THE US; 10/11/06;BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's local dailies report on the world's reaction to North Korea's nuclear challenge. ¶2. OPINION PIECES - "New North Korean challenge" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (10/11) "One day after the North Korean nuclear test, which shocked the world, a North Korean government official went even further and threatened the US to launch a nuclear missile unless Washington holds direct negotiations with Pyongyang. "The North Korean government official's statement raised the White House's immediate rejection while the UN Security Council continued discussing a resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea and the Japanese government declared that Pyongyang may have performed a second nuclear test, which was denied by South Korean authorities." - "North Korea asks the US to hold talks in order to avoid 'a nuclear war'" Leading "Clarin" reports (10/11) "One day after having shocked the world when it announced it had performed an underground nuclear test, North Korea asked the US to hold bilateral talks in order to avoid a future nuclear confrontation. However, Washington, which has refused to hold this dialogue since some time ago, submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking to impose tough sanctions on the defying Communist regime, and it has not dismissed the military option. "Even China, the main ally of Pyongyang, called to adopt 'punitive sanctions,' although it made clear that it conclusively opposed 'any kind of military violence against North Korea.' "North Korea's Communist regime reiterated its threats and asked to hold direct talks with Washington in order to obtain the USG's commitment that it will not attempt to overthrow the regime of enigmatic Kim Jong Il." - "Listen to Blix" Hinde Pomeraniec, columnist of leading "Clarin," writes (10/11) "Just like with Greek Casandra, who cried out the truth, Swedish Hans Blix was ignored when he said that there were no WMD in Iraq that could justify a war. "Now, the major UN inspector has just warned that a nuclear catastrophe is on the immediate geopolitical horizon. "Bush's nuclear policy has unleashed new nuclear programs in Russia and China, which, in their turn triggered new steps in India and Pakistan, in a dramatic 'socialization' of massive destruction. "One month ago, a 'think tank' led by former PM Yasuhiro Nakasone published a study urging the nation to 'consider the nuclear option.' The North Korea test can only fuel those temptations even further. The time has come to listen to Blix." - "The US has suggested that the UN impose tough restrictions on North Korea" Business-financial, center-right "InfoBae" reports (10/11) "According to yesterday's UN draft resolution, the US has suggested to impose tough sanctions on North Korea based on its lack of interest in honoring the UN Security Council's requirements following the nuclear test it performed. "The draft resolution promotes severe sanctions on North Korea and it also includes an explicit request from Japan to prevent other countries from authorizing the arrival of North Korean ships or airplanes to their ports and air stations. "The US has also proposed to impose a compulsory review of all loadings coming from or going to North Korea in order to guarantee that no WMD or elements to manufacture them are included. "The US is seeking to prohibit trade of this stuff, which could be used for the manufacture or transportation of WMD. "For its part, the Chinese government, the main North Korean ally, asserted that the nuclear test will 'obviously' damage the bilateral relationship between China and North Korea, in an apparent sign that Beijing has started to lose patience with its Communist ally." - "Swaying between failed talks and sanctions" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reprints an AFP story (10/11) "For more than one decade, US diplomatic negotiations have not managed to put an end to North Korea's nuclear program and immediate prospects of establishing new talks after the Communist regime's firm decision to perform a nuclear test seem remote. "Pyongyang's first nuclear test occurred the day before yesterday in spite of an agreement reached after three years of multilateral negotiations during the current Bush administration and direct talks held during the Clinton administration, which led to a temporary stagnation of North Korea's nuclear program. "However, the deals failed due to disagreement among the nations negotiating with North Korea, Pyongyang's lack of commitment, and the intransigency of the Bush administration's hawks." - "Alan Garcia tells Bush: 'We are waging another Cold War'" Conservative "La Prensa" reports (10/11) "When Peruvian President Alan Garcia met with his US counterpart, George W. Bush, Garcia warned on the birth of an 'Andean fundamentalism, which grows coca and jeopardizes stability there and in the entire hemisphere,' and he opined that a 'Cold War' is being waged in South America between those who defend democracy and their opponents, in obvious reference to Presidents Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales. "During his first visit to Washington, Garcia highlighted that 'because of this, we will side with the US in strengthening regional democracy.' "... The main purpose of Garcia's trip is to promote the Bilateral Agreement for Trade Promotion. The US president committed himself to 'convincing Capitol Hill to approve it as soon as possible.'" To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MATERA