N. Korea's trip to Asian security meeting 'a landmark'

BANGKOK (AFP): North Korea's foray into the intricate waters of international diplomacy at an Asian security forum here is a crucial first step towards easing tension on the Korean peninsula, analysts say.

North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun Wednesday embarked on a series of meetings with more than 10 of his counterparts on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) security working group.

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said after meeting with Paek that "breakthroughs" could be expected in his historic talks with the United States, Japan and South Korea this week.

"This is the first time in any place, anywhere, that all protagonists, all players of tensions, of problems, of lack of confidence, of lack of security and stability, in Northeast Asia and the Korean peninsula will be here together," Surin said.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula and concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons development have been high on the agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) since it began its annual dialogue in 1994.

But analysts and diplomats said it was more likely that Paek's meetings this week would steer clear of these sensitive topics and stick to more general, relationship-building discussion.

"We are really more interested in establishing a friendly relationship with North Korea," a Japanese foreign ministry official said, adding it would welcome an agreement to re-open talks on establishing diplomatic ties.

The director of Thailand's Institute of Security and International Studies Pranee Tsipparat said ASEAN should "not expect too much" from North Korea's presence here.

"It's a practical move on their side. They have nothing to lose, they can get some help in their economy," she said.

But she added that even if no concrete progress was made the visit would still be extremely beneficial.

"It's a positive sign because we are bringing in a country which could be a potential flashpoint in the region instead of leaving it out," she said.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said North Korea's admission to the ARF was a "positive step towards reconciliation on the peninsula."

"After 50 years, we're welcoming North Korea back into the concert of nations," he told reporters, referring to the partition of the peninsula after the Korean War from 1951-1953.

"We still have ongoing concerns about weapons of mass destruction and other issues in North Korea, but dialogue will be more productive than any other measure," Goff said.

M.C. Abad, a senior official at the ASEAN Secretariat based in Jakarta, said that in its application letter for membership to the forum, North Korea said it recognized its role in maintaining regional peace.

Through the ARF, ASEAN has engaged China in a bid to peacefully resolve conflicting disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, along with China and Taiwan have laid partial or entire claims to the South China Sea's Spratly islands.

"It's definitely an important development because ARF is here to promote regional stability and the Korean Peninsula issue is one of the areas of concern," Abad said.

He also said that "eventually" North Korea could be included in a powerful caucus officially launched here Wednesday embracing ASEAN and its northern neighbors China, Japan and South Korea.

"It's a question of time and building comfort levels on both sides," Abad told AFP.

Surin said that ASEAN, through Cambodia, laid the ground for North Korea's entry into the forum earlier this year.

The problem was "how to approach gingerly, carefully but also sincerely," Surin said, adding that ASEAN turned to Cambodia because of King Norodom Sihanouk had close ties with Pyongyang.

"We used the diversity we had in the region ... to support our initiative, to complement each other's efforts. I am grateful for the success that we have achieved so far," he said.

ARF covers ASEAN members Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and their dialogue partners Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.