We know best on North Korea, says South's Prez

Canberra, Dec 6: South Korea's president said today othernations should pay heed to his government's decision not to supportstronger interception of North Korean ships suspected of smugglingweapons.

Roh Moo-hyun said his country would suffer most from confrontationwith the North, and had taken a strategic decision to avoid conflictwith Pyongyang.

The United States has been pressing South Korea to take a strongerstand against North Korea following Pyongyang's October 9 nuclear testand a UN Security Council resolution urged more inspection of cargobound for the secretive state.

''Korea knows the North Koreans the best. We are experts in factin dealing with them,'' Roh said through an interpreter at a stateluncheon in Australia's parliament.

''I think the international community would do well to heed theviews of my government and the expertise of my government in dealingwith this issue.'' Roh, on his first visit to Australia as part of atrip through Southeast Asia and Oceania to discuss trade, security andNorth Korea's nuclear weapons programme, said his country had imposedtough sanctions on North Korea, in line with the UN resolution.

But South Korea did not support an extension of the ProliferationSecurity Initiative (PSI), launched by the United States in 2003 toguard against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

''My government's position is it is wise to restrain from actionsthat could cause a physical armed confrontation between the twoKoreas,'' Roh earlier told reporters after talks with Australian PrimeMinister John Howard.

''For peace in the region, we are making appropriate and strategicdecisions.'' North Korea has agreed to return to stalled six-nationtalks alongside South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russiato discuss scrapping its nuclear programmes.

Australia, a strong supporter of the PSI, has offered to send anavy ship, if needed, to help intercept North Korean vessels afterPyongyang's nuclear test.

During the talks, Roh said Australia and South Korea had agreed toa joint feasibility study into a free-trade agreement, but saidAustralia was more enthusiastic about the proposal.

South Korea is third largest market for Australian exports, withtwo two-way trade worth about A18 billion dollar (14 billion dollar) in2005-06.

Australia has a A billion trade surplus with South Korea andsells coal, oil, iron ore, wheat and liquefied natural gas to Seoul,buying back cars and computer equipment.

Australia is also home to 26,000 South Korean students.

Reuters