I read the news on Tokyo and Washington warning that they would take tougher measures against Pyongyang (China Daily, January 6, 2007) if the latter had a second nuke test.

The best way, from my viewpoint, to solve the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula is that all concerned parties should first eliminate the Cold War mentality. If Pyongyang feels that Tokyo and Washington are trying to encircle or isolate it, it would, understandably, develop its military strength as much as it could to deter the perceived threat from its enemies.

On the other side, viewing the growth of Pyongyang's military power as an increasing threat, the opposite bloc could think that they could do nothing else but to adopt a tougher stand.

This then could be a vicious circle.

Megumi Kawaguchi

Japan

(China Daily 01/09/2007 page11)