Bush admin finds 'noteworthy difference between India and N Kore

Washington, July 11 (UNI) The White House is not alarmed over India testing a long-range missile on July 9, less than a week after North Korea's internationally condemned missile testing on July 4.

''India has pursued its program in such a way as not to be a threat of provocation to its neighbours. In that regard, it informed United States in advance and has by agreement, also notified Pakistan. It did it in a transparent and non-threatening way,'' White House press secretary Tony Snow told journalists yesterday.

According to Mr Snow, North Korea has acted in sharp contrast to India as it ''defied the express wishes of its neighbours and others in the neighbourhood, it also fired missiles as a provocation, without warning others and therefore, has created the diplomatic activity that you now see''.

''It did not come as a surprise. We were aware, and understood it would be a routine test,'' Mr Snow told reporters.

The missile test comes as the Bush administration is trying to to push a civilian nuclear deal with India past a skeptical Congress.

The deal permits India to keep making nuclear weapons and critics say the pact could undermine the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

The State department spokesman said, '' That is their decision to make. They did notify us in advance that they were doing this. They also notified the Pakistan Government that they were doing it in advance, in confirmity with their agreement with them.

''Look, I wouldn't try to draw any equivalence between India, the world's largest multi-ethnic democracy, and North Korea, a closed totalitarian state.'' UNI XC PR VA RK0910