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

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002293

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STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

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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