MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, G-20 SUMMIT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000690

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, G-20 SUMMIT,
TERRORISM; NEW DELHI.

This countrywide cable reports on relevant media
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press.
The Mission reports on English-language media via email
through the daily "Early Edition" summary.

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NORTH KOREA
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1. "SECOND CRISIS," editorial in April 7 NAVBHARAT TIMES
Hindi daily: "If North Korea's missile launch is not
taken seriously, another crisis of the proportions of the
global economic recession may start. The 6-nation
dialogue to make North Korea halt its nuclear program is
taking its own sweet time. If the U.S. quits these talks
it is certain that North Korea will somehow finish the
remaining work of its nuclear program. The U.S. will
certainly make all efforts to prevent North Korea, but
Russia and China are supporting North Korea. The key to
the North Korea problem is still China, and the U.S.
would be well advised to take heed. After the Iraq
invasion, every anti-U.S. country is busy making missiles
and bombs. Obama will have to undo this damage done by
Bush."


2. "NORTH KOREA MISSILE TESTS," editorial in April 7
right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "North Korea's recent
missile tests have pushed the world, including America,
into a zone of imminent threat and potential danger. The
world is angry with North Korea. The United Nations
Security Council is calling it an emergency situation.
Now, Pakistan is a Muslim country, and since it became a
nuclear power efforts are being made by western countries
to destabilize and control it. However, you can't try
that with North Korea, since its political leadership is
united and strong."

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G-20 SUMMIT
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3. "THE FAILURE OF THE LONDON SUMMIT" op-ed article by
columnist Ramgopal Agarwala in April 8 centrist Marathi
daily SAKAAL. "The summit did not achieve much... in the
way of finding effective solutions to beat the economic
slowdown. It is clear that developing countries cannot
expect any substantial help from the International
Monetary Fund. The summit did not arrive at any consensus
over the inclusion of developing countries' financial
institutions in the decision-making process of IMF. India
has been lately affected by the protectionist policies of
the U.S.; there was no mention of these restrictive
policies. India should now forget the G-20 for the moment
and pin hopes on the upcoming summit of East Asian
countries in Bangkok on April 11 and 12."

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TERRORISM
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4. "DESTROYING NATION," editorial in April 7 DAINIK

NEW DELHI 00000690 002 OF 002


HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "There is a risk of terrorists
seizing Pakistan's nuclear weapons. David Kilcullen, a
former adviser to top U.S. military commander General
David Petraeus claims the Pakistan government could
collapse within six months. He also doubts the success of
President Obama4s policy to fight terrorism with Zardari.
The other worrisome factor in his assessment is that the
Pakistanis consider India their first enemy... in the wake
of the U.S. aid to Pakistan and the possibility of
military rule in Islamabad, India will have to strengthen
its military power and adopt a new diplomatic strategy."


5. "TALIBAN'S TARGET" editorial in the April 8 right-of-
center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "The situation
in Pakistan is extremely delicate, with the Taliban
having penetrated deep into Pakistan's territory. With
Lahore already on its radar, there is no doubt that even
Islamabad will fall prey to this radical outfit if
Pakistan doesn't take swift and decisive action. Even
America needs to understand that merely sending aid won't
solve the problem. The time has come to send military to
annihilate Taliban terrorists. It is sad that Pakistan's
politicians are busy settling political scores... when the
need of the hour is a united front to contain the rapid
surge of the Taliban into Pakistan's territory...."
BURLEIGH