APEC Likely to Issue Warning Declaration on North Korea’s Nuclear Programs

Two joint declarations could be announced in the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting scheduled for October 20-21 in Bangkok, Thailand, which aims to urge North Korea to give up its nuclear program and to make efforts to prevent the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Japanese officials said on October 17.

These joint declarations are known to be prepared in order to cope with North Korea’s warning of a “physical disclosure of nuclear deterrent force.” Similar declaration warning the North Korea “to abide by the pledge to give up its nuclear weapons” was issued during the last APEC meeting in Mexico.

Meanwhile, U.S. president George W. Bush, who left Washington on October 16 to visit several Asian countries including Japan, will likely be stressing his opinion on North Korea’s nuclear issues during each summit meeting.

“Asian countries have to know that my pledge on North Korea’s nuclear and WMD issues is as firm as mine in those days following September 11th,” President Bush said.

21 member countries of APEC will hold cabinet meeting for two days from October 17 in Bangkok to discuss a plan to advance the target time of regional free trade.