Korea dialog

I am surprised with the report about the demise of President Kim Il Sung of North Korea. Of course, I fear that Kim's death will disrupt the peace talks between South and North Korea, organized by the United States.

The peace talks are aimed at reducing the tension between the South and North Korean states because of political differences between the two countries sparked by the North Korean nuclear issue.

Some political observers say that the successor of Kim Il Sung is likely to change his predecessor's foreign policy. Kim was reported to have been committed in his readiness to hold an open dialog to discuss the North Korean nuclear problem.

The U.S. Foreign Secretary said that the U.S. Administration will continue its initiatives to hold a dialog with North Korea if the country's leader does not change its foreign policy. Actually, the U.S. fears that the Korean nuclear bomb will be used to attack U.S. backed South Korea. In this context, the U.S., in collaboration with South Korea, has made every effort to stop the North Korean nuclear program.

I hope that the leaders of North Korea will continue the late Kim's policy and the crucial nuclear issue in the Korean peninsula can be solved peacefully.

MARIA ULFAH ANSHOR

Jakarta