June 1st 2003
SINGAPORE (AP) - The United States wants Asian countries to use economic pressure to force North Korea to halt its nuclear ambitions, U.S. deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Saturday.
Wolfowitz spoke to a gathering of Asian and western defence and security chiefs in Singapore shortly before travelling to South Korea for a two-day visit expected to include discussions on North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program.
Wolfowitz said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is driving the country toward economic ruin, which could send 20 million people flooding into China and South Korea.
North Korea "is teetering on the edge of economic collapse," Wolfowitz told the delegates.
"That, I believe, is a major point of leverage."
He said Russia, China, Japan and South Korea should use their aid to put pressure on North Korea.
"Countries of the region that are helping keep North Korea afloat need to send a message to North Korea that they're not going to continue doing that if North Korea continues down the road it's on," Wolfowitz said.
The United States could eventually pursue economic sanctions against North Korea through the UN Security Council. North Korea has said such a step would amount to a declaration of war.
On Sunday, North Korea accused the United States of conducting some 220 spy flights over its territory in May.
Saturday's gathering, the 2nd annual Asia Security Conference, was the first major meeting of the region's security chiefs since the October 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which killed 202 people, mostly western tourists.
Wolfowitz said that attack - blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah, a region-wide Islamic militant group thought linked to al-Qaida - prompted Indonesia to join the global fight against terrorism.
"While the terrorists may regard their attack as a tactical success, I believe (it was) a strategic failure," he said in his speech.
"The attack in Bali galvanized Indonesian resolve and strengthened international co-operation to go after terrorism."
Wolfowitz, a former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, said more than 3,000 al-Qaida operatives have been arrested in over 100 countries since the bombings.
The recent bombings in Riyadh that left 34 people dead, including eight Americans, would be "a similar wake-up call" for Saudi Arabia, he said.
Since October last year, tensions have flared on the divided Korean Peninsula over North Korea's nuclear programs.
U.S. officials said North Korea claimed at talks in April in China that it already has nuclear weapons but would give up its nuclear programs in return for economic aid and security guarantees.
Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ichiba said if the North has nuclear weapons, it would be "absolutely unacceptable" and Japan has plans to enhance its ballistic-missile defence as a means of protecting itself.
The conference, first held a year ago in Singapore, is the largest forum for Asia Pacific defence leaders to discuss military and strategic policies.
North Korea did not accept an invitation to attend. Chinese defence officials also stayed away, though several Chinese defence academics are participating.
Also Saturday, Wolfowitz also held talks with defence ministers Angelo Reyes of the Philippines and George Fernandes of India.
The Philippines has been battling Islamic rebels in its mostly Muslim southern islands. Fighting with guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Saturday left 16 rebels and seven militiamen allied to the government.
The MILF has announced it would start on 10-day unilateral ceasefire Monday but demanded troops be withdrawn from rebel areas. In Singapore, Reyes rejected the demand.
