The Statement of `Axis of Evil` Nonproductive

New York Daily News reported on the 23rd that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter criticized U.S. President George W. Bush, saying, "the statement of `axis of evil` was overly simplistic and counterproductive." in his comment on the President’s southeastern Asia round calls. The paper reported that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter negatively evaluated the result of President Bush’s round calls by saying, " it will take years before we can repair the damage done by that statement."

Meanwhile, International herald Tribune on the 23rd insisted that U.S.’s brinkmanship would not work with North Korea, and the skillful blend of the carrots and sticks would lead to a negotiated end to the nuclear threat from North Korea. And the Paper pointed, " after a military triumph in Afghanistan, it is tempting for Americans to think that North Korea might to be a pushover, too. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong IL’s top priority, however, is not the reunification of Korea by military means but the survival of his regime."

And the Paper stressed, "it is counterintuitive to think that any benefit for the democracies could come from helping such a regime to survive. But if it were acknowledged that North Korea is a failed state, it would be reasonable for the United States to play for time, to pursue policies that would reduce the very real threat that North Korea poses to South Korea."

konihong@donga.com