Development on Korean encouraging

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto in his capacity as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) said yesterday that he was greatly encouraged by the decision of North and South Korea to hold a summit in an effort to end their nuclear dispute.

"The President views this decision as a very positive development," Nana Sutresna, the chief assistant for the NAM chairman, said after meeting with Soeharto yesterday.

Indonesia is also encouraged by the plan to reopen talks between the United States and North Korea and highly appreciates the personal efforts of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter during his visit to the region to seek ways to end the nuclear dispute, Nana said.

Indonesia, in its capacity as NAM leader, has taken various steps to bring an end to the nuclear crisis, Nana said.

It has repeatedly emphasized the need for all parties involved "to exercise restraint and avoid creating situation which may disturb the region's peace and stability."

Indonesia has maintained a neutral position in the Korean conflict, maintaining contacts with both Pyongyang and Seoul.

North Korea is an NAM colleague while South Korea is one of Indonesia's major trading partners.

According to the statement by Soeharto yesterday, Indonesia believes that North and South Korea have laid the basis for solving the dispute peacefully rather than by force when they agreed to hold the summit.

He said Indonesia and the NAM ministerial meeting in Cairo endorsed the three separate peace talks -- between the U.S. and North Korea, South Korea and North Korea and North Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency -- as a means to end the dispute once and for all.

North Korean President Kim Il-sung earlier sent an envoy to Jakarta to brief President Soeharto on the situation from the viewpoint of North Korea. Soeharto also sent an envoy to Pyongyang to review the situation, according to Nana.

"Based on these visits, the President has been able to conclude that all parties involved are actually eager to end the problem through peaceful negotiations," Nana said.

He said Soeharto also hoped the positive directions recently taken could lead to mutual agreements.

"A climate of distrust between the two Koreas which has carried on for more than 40 years since the end of the Korean War is perhaps the biggest barrier towards a normal relationship," Nana said, adding that any efforts to dismantle such a climate would need much time and comprehensive approaches.(pwn)