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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 11, 2006 N. Korea calls for U.S. to end 'hostile attitude' By Anthony Faiola The Washington Post SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea's second-most powerful political figure, Kim Yong Nam, indicated Wednesday that the Pyongyang government would carry out further nuclear tests if the United States does not change what he described as Washington's "hostile attitude" toward Pyongyang. In an interview with Japan's Kyodo News service in Pyongyang, Kim also dismissed the impact that any U.N. Security Council economic sanctions would have on his impoverished, communist nation. "Even as economic sanctions increase by day, our economy in general has entered a rising trend," he said. His words marked the first public comment from a high-ranking North Korean official following the secretive Pyongyang government's professed nuclear test Monday. Kim, considered the No. 2 political figure in North Korea after absolute ruler Kim Jong Il, added that North Korea would refuse to come back to stalled six-party talks aimed at its nuclear disarmament unless the United States dropped economic measures targeting North Korea's illicit counterfeiting and other illegal businesses imposed last year. Fears that North Korea might conduct another test have risen in the region. Given the comparatively small size of the explosion, analysts have questioned whether the test had partially failed or whether it was even nuclear in nature. Some have suggested that a disappointing result may prompt Pyongyang to attempt another test. "The issue of future nuclear tests is linked to U.S. policy toward our country," Kim told Kyodo on Wednesday. "If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that." Across northeast Asia, the nuclear issue kept the region on edge, particularly after seismic activity on Wednesday — initially reported as a possible second North Korean nuclear test — was proven instead to have been an earthquake in Northern Japan. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, however, told a parliamentary panel that Japan had unconfirmed information that the communist state might yet conduct another test. The Japanese, who consider themselves the most threatened by North Korean weaponry and have joined Washington in leading the effort to apply more pressure on Pyongyang, moved Wednesday night to approve a series of unilateral sanctions ahead of international action at the Security Council. In a news conference Wednesday evening, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said those measures are set to include the barring of all North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports and banning imports from North Korea, as well as forbidding North Korean nationals from entering Japan. The decision was agreed upon at a meeting of Japan's National Security Council and is expected to be formally adopted by the cabinet on Friday. In September, Japan began limiting money transfers from 16 entities suspected of having ties with North Korea's nuclear and weapons development programs. The scope of those sanction are also expected to be widened to include remittances to North Korea from Japan that analysts say total as much as $900 million a year. "Japan will be most affected security wise by this North Korean issue," Shiozaki said. "We decided on this sanction based on Japan's independent thinking and judgment taking into consideration the significance" of the professed nuclear test. In South Korea, President Roh Moo-hyun — who had long been counted among the North's staunchest defenders in the region — continued to distance himself from the Pyongyang government. "North Korea says the reason it is pursuing nuclear (weapons) is for its security, but the security threat North Korea speaks of either does not exist in reality, or is very exaggerated," Roh said, according to the semi-official Yonhap News agency. South Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told parliament that Seoul may enlarge its arsenal of conventional weapons if North Korea is ultimately proven to have a nuclear capability. "If North Korea really has the (nuclear) capabilities, we will improve and enlarge the number of conventional weapons as long as it doesn't violate the principle of denuclearization," he said. "We will supplement (our ability) to conduct precision strikes against storage facilities and intercept delivery means, while also improving the system of having military units and individuals defend themselves." Current Comments: north korea shoul more accept sanction in doing nuclear test that will possibly harmed the life of mankind. siang kia sang - guandong china - October 12th, 6:18 PM the united nation should create more sanction to north korea because of nuclear testing they have done.the north korea is a biggest threat to entire nation,even they say that their nuclear testing is succesful the UN should act about this unneccessary action had been taken by north korea. christian carl c.bulatao - baguio city philippines - October 12th, 6:23 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. 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