RI may ask N. Korea to stop missile test

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 07/07/2006 4:44 PM

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia is exploring the possibility of using its close relations with North Korea to persuade the socialist country to stop new missile testing, when its special envoy Nana Sutresna talks with North Korean leaders Friday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said that besides preparing for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Pyongyang and Seoul later this month, Nana was tasked with discussing North Korea's role in reducing tension in the peninsula and to persuade North Korea to return to six-party talks.

""We are one of the few countries that has very good relations with North Korea. We hope we can capitalize on that. Pak Nana will arrive at Pyongyang this afternoon. He will talk with Korean leaders on several issues, including but not specifically on the nuclear missile launches,"" he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Indonesia had relatively close ties with North Korea in the 1950s and 1960s under former President Sukarno, and even when Jakarta took a pro-Western course under the next president, Soeharto, the two countries maintained relations.

The administration of Sukarno's daughter Megawati Soekarnoputri, president from 2001 until late 2004, made special efforts to strengthen relations with North Korea and serve as a mediator.

The presidential envoy, Nana, who visited North Korea in February said North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il had welcomed Yudhoyono's planned visit. Indonesia hopes to play a role in easing tensions between the two Koreas

Six-nation talks, comprising of the two Koreas, the U.S, Japan, China and Russia, which aim at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive have been stalled since November when the North boycotted the negotiations in protest over U.S. financial sanctions.

Before leaving Jakarta, Nana told AFP that he was unsure whether he would be able to raise the issue of the launches during scheduled talks with Pyongyang officials.

""We are very concerned and urge all sides to carry out self restraint. I'll see first whether I can raise the subject or not once I arrive there,"" the veteran diplomat told AFP.

He said his trip had been planned before North Korea test fired the missiles including one capable of reaching U.S. soil, that all splashed down in the Sea of Japan.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said earlier that Nana would deliver a personal message from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to ask North Korea to return to the six-nation talks and discuss ways to reduce tension in the region.

Hassan said that said Indonesia expressed regret over Wednesday's missile launches.

The United States and North Korea's neighbors reacted with fury to Pyongyang's missile tests, launching sanctions, raising military alerts and urging it to return to nuclear disarmament talks.

They have urged the UN to issue sanctions on North Korea for the missile launches.

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