Regional dynamism

It is not difficult to imagine that President Roh Moo-hyun must find his six-day Southeast Asian tour -- his second within a fortnight -- psychologically challenging. Under pressure from political instability at home, he has to conduct one-on-one summit diplomacy with leaders of major powers on the sidelines of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit.

Probably reflecting the tension on the political front and the president's heavy mood, the usual departure ceremony for the head of state was skipped. The president said in a statement that he expected to discuss with other leaders ways to "increase cooperation in the economy, technology and finance in order to build the regional community." He said he would also "explain our policy to engage North Korea for peace and prosperity to seek support from other nations."

Regardless of the somber prospect of a "political deal" that he will have to make with his adversaries upon returning, the president carried the hefty task of urging leaders of the four big powers -- the United States, Japan, China and Russia -- to continue talks with North Korea to resolve the nuclear crisis through diplomacy. With U.S. President George W. Bush, he is also expected to discuss dispatching additional troops to Iraq as well as the redeployment plan for the U.S. Forces Korea.

The APEC forum will again focus on the fight against terrorism under the U.S. initiative this year, while the group's primary goal is to encourage trade and investment. In an agenda set for the summit, the trade and foreign ministers from the region called for a new global trade pact to benefit countries rich and poor and warned that economic prosperity is threatened by terrorism.

What is particularly frustrating at this time is that the nation is not only losing the momentum for economic vitality but is also swamped by political and security dilemmas. This is the crucial reason that able leadership is urgently needed.

-- The Korea Herald, Seoul