VZCZCXYZ0017
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2286/01 2841525
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111525Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6158
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, 
WHA/EPSC 
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREA; US LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS; US TROOP IMMUNITY; 
EVO MORALES; PLAN COLOMBIA; 10/10/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Weekend papers cover world reaction to North Korea's first nuclear 
test, underscoring that every country termed it an act of 
provocation, and that superpowers have asked for sanctions that 
could include a military action against Pyongyang. According to some 
local dailies, US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton warned that a 
North Korean attack against South Korea or Japan would be considered 
an attack against the US. Papers also report fears of an arms race 
in the region and that Argentina joined the overall condemnation of 
North Korean nuclear tests. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "Bush asks for a fast response to North Korea's nuclear tests" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
comments (10/10) "According to an announcement made by Pyongyang's 
Communist government, major world powers joined the US in condemning 
North Korea for its 'underground nuclear tests,' which it performed 
on Monday. 
 
"Regardless of the magnitude of the tests or how important they can 
be for the development of King Jong Il's nuclear arsenal, 
undoubtedly North Korea's defiant attitude has not only revealed the 
failure of Washington's hard line and pro-sanctions policy but also 
China's moderate stance in favor of a diplomatic solution. 
 
"US President George W. Bush called the North Korean announcement 
'an act of provocation that jeopardizes international peace and 
security,' and asked for 'an immediate response' from the UN 
Security Council. He joined the other members of the so-called Group 
of Six (the US, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas), which has 
held negotiations for three years to convince the Pyongyang 
administration to put an end to its nuclear program. 
 
"China, the most important political and economic ally of the 
Communist regime, strongly criticized and rejected the test 'in a 
shameless way...' For its part, South Korea suspended its 
humanitarian aid... Japan said that the North Korean test is a 
threat 'to all of humanity' and that it will assess 'severe measures 
of retaliation' as a response. 
 
"... Currently, Washington has too main fears in this regard. First 
and foremost, if North Korea's announced test is confirmed, this 
could affect Southeast Asia's stability and this could trigger an 
arms race in the region. Secondly, North Korea being a very poor 
country, the Kim Jong Il regime is very likely to eventually sell 
its nuclear technology to countries like Syria or even terrorist 
groups like Al Qaeda to obtain the money it so badly needs." 
 
- "The UN warns North Korea" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (10/07) "The UN Security Council 
urged North Korea to abandon its plans to perform a nuclear test and 
resume negotiations about its controversial nuclear program, shortly 
after Pyongyang's leader met with high military leaders. 
 
"In a unanimously approved statement, the UN Security Council, which 
is empowered to impose economic sanctions and even to order a 
military intervention, urged North Korea to abstain from performing 
any action that could worsen tension, and it threatened to take 
measures if necessary." 
 
- "North Korea - nightmares in international security" 
 
Oscar Raul Cardoso, leading "Clarin's" international analyst, opines 
(10/07) "If one takes into account the most serious current studies 
performed by some intelligence agencies, multilateral institutions 
and even humanitarian organizations, the international concern over 
the recurring crisis in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear program 
or wars in Afghanistan and Iraq should be downplayed. 
 
"They say one should be focused on the true possible security 
nightmare, which is located in the Korean peninsula... 
 
"... For many reasons, prospects in North Korea are much scarier 
than what Western propaganda wants us to believe about an Iranian 
theocracy with future access to WMD. There are many more dilemmas in 
a nuclear North Korea than, for instance, the fear of a possible 
conventional war that could end up in a nuclear confrontation 
between Iran and Israel, which already has this armament. 
 
"While experts in the Middle East still speak of only one of three 
types of WMD (chemical and biological, in addition to nuclear 
weapons), all of them are present in the Korean peninsula in the 
framework of an always precarious and military peace, following a 
 
war between 1953 and 1956, which divided Korea into one republic to 
the south and a communist state to the north. 
 
"... Nonetheless, the idea of a North Korea launched to the abyss of 
a total war is not the most worrisome thing. Whatever damage it 
could inflict in the first hours, the response would be so 
conclusive that we can predict that the country could quickly 
descend into chaos. 
 
"In addition to destruction, we are speaking about waves of 
desperate immigrants that could flood the South and (Beijing's big 
nightmare) China through the region of Manchuria. This is the 
potential damage implied in Kim Jong Il's threatening announcement." 
 
 
- "Capitol Hill, the focus of a tough confrontation for votes" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (10/08) "... 1994 legislative 
elections became a Republican revolution... 
 
"Now, dynamics have changed and it is the Democrats' turn to dream 
of a revolution that will corner George W. Bush. The Iraqi 'swamp,' 
drops in the economy, cases of corruption, and Republican 
representative Mark Foley's sex scandal have contributed to fuelling 
Democratic hopes. 
 
"However, Republicans are confident that they will triumph in the 
upcoming legislative elections or that, at least, they will not have 
to cede as many seats as to lose control of Capitol Hill. 
 
"Much is at stake... Bush could become a 'lame duck.' Democrats are 
promoting a negative agenda focused on the war in Iraq, the fragile 
status of local economy and Bush's 'lack of competence,' while they 
avoid defining their positions on controversial immigration reform 
or drafting a concrete program of reforms. 
 
"Republicans are also engaged in a negative campaign about 
Democrats, blaming them for 'ineptitude' to describe how they would 
deal with the 'global fight on terror.' White House support is 
added, with accusations that Democrats are 'cowards' and want to 
'flee' Iraq, and thereby yield to terrorism." 
 
- "The US asks Paraguay about troops' immunity" 
 
Leading "Clarin" (10/07) reports "The US asked the Duarte 
administration to review its decision to withdraw immunity for US 
troops performing military exercises and providing social assistance 
in Paraguay. 
 
"FM Ruben Ramirez told journalists that Ambassador James Cason has 
formally asked the Paraguayan government to 'review' its decision. 
 
"... Ramirez added that 'it is no longer possible for the Paraguayan 
government to grant this kind of immunity (for the military) in the 
framework of the Vienna Convention, which is enforceable for 
diplomatic and administrative officials.' 
 
"... Nevertheless, according to the US embassy, 'diplomatic 
conversations about military cooperation between the two countries 
still continue.' And, according to diplomatic sources, Washington 
could make an exception with Paraguay in order to continue 
performing military exercises next year." 
 
- "Evo Morales defies Bush on coca leaf" 
 
Leading "Clarin" (10/09) reports "Bolivian President Evo Morales 
made a strong defense of its anti-drug policy and rejected a US 
official document asking La Paz to suspend its authorizations for 
new coca plantations and setting a March deadline to re-establish 
its coca leaf policy. 
 
"... The Bolivian president rejected the criticism from Washington a 
couple of weeks ago about Bolivia's cooperation in the fight against 
drugs and called it 'interference.' 
 
"Bush called on the Bolivian administration to 're-focus on its 
anti-coca efforts' and not to limit itself to fighting cocaine 
traffic. The report promised an assessment of the Bolivian case in 
six months, which will be due in March 2007." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Tension in the Korean peninsula" 
 
An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (10/09) "North Korea's 
nuclear challenge raises concern due to the risks of an escalation 
 
that could become a concrete threat to international security and 
peace. 
 
"The use of nuclear development with military purposes is one of the 
means of escape through which isolated countries, which are involved 
in conflicts or are ruled by belligerent regimes, seek to take 
advantage of an unstable scenario with no rules. 
 
"... In an open challenge, the Pyongyang regime has announced the 
implementation of nuclear tests as a response to US 'belligerence.' 
Washington called the announcement a provocation and Japan warned 
that it would respond harshly. The danger of a violent escalation 
lies in North Korea's real offensive capability, with possession of 
WMD and the possibility of using them. But this danger is also 
another reason to be concerned about international security, which 
is often challenged." 
 
- "Colombia struggle against drugs" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" editorializes (10/10) "Once again, the 
USG praised the Colombian government's 'strong commitment' in its 
struggle against drugs... 
 
"... The report underscored how important it is for the US to 
maintain its assistance to the country through Plan Colombia... 
 
"... Colombia cannot carry out its fight against drugs alone - there 
are different fronts of battle... Colombian President Alvaro Uribe 
has asked the world to assume greater responsibility in this fight 
and to cooperate with the different programs implemented by the 
Colombian government regarding alternate crops and forest 
protection. 
 
"Drug eradication is not exclusively a Colombian problem but a 
global one." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA