Asian editorial excerpts

TOKYO, April 21 Kyodo

Selected editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

A UNITING OF ROGUES (Bangkok Post, Bangkok)

It has now been a year since Burma and North Korea announced their intentions to renew diplomatic relations. In the ordinary course of events, such an announcement between two nations at loggerheads would be a welcome sign.

But these are not two ordinary countries. From the beginning, this somewhat strange relationship caused more concern than optimism among the neighbors, both in Northeast Asia and around here.

Individually, Burma and North Korea are each a thorn in the sides of their neighbors. Burma is a reclusive, secretive country which has acquiesced in drug trafficking and built a massive military and state security system by ruining the country economically.

North Korea is a hermit nation which also has squandered the national economy in the name of building a huge army. The Pyongyang regime has developed nuclear weapons, actually fired missiles on and over neighbors including Japan.

What one publication dubbed last year as the uniting of world rogues has heightened concern. It now appears that secret Burmese-North Korean military cooperation pre-dated the decision to exchange ambassadors once again. At least one Australian expert has testified that Pyongyang has been supplying conventional weapons and technology to Burma for several years -- probably since 1999, according to a respected Thailand-based Burma watcher.

Then there are the reports that North Korea has become involved in the Burmese desire for a nuclear reactor. While no one thinks the Burmese junta wants a nuclear weapon, its secretive search for a research or medical reactor is highly troubling.

Pyongyang and Rangoon are entitled to have diplomatic relations. But their secretive nature should trouble the Thai government and the neighbors of both countries. Secrecy promotes suspicion, distrust and tension. Neither of these pariah nations has goodwill to help it look respectable. The strongest diplomatic pressure should be put on both countries to clear up their questionable behavior, military acquisitions and nuclear programs.

(April 21)

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