New South Korean President Calls North Korea's Nuclear Crisis a Major Threat to Global Peace

Roh Moo-hyun, the new President of South Korea, described North Korea's nuclear crisis as a significant threat to global peace and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue instead of confrontation. Mr. Roh was sworn in as the ninth President of South Korea on Tuesday. A former human rights lawyer, he stated in his inauguration speech that if North Korea abandons its nuclear ambitions, it could receive assistance from the international community. Just hours before this speech, South Korean officials reported that a North Korean anti-ship missile had landed in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Pyongyang has not confirmed these statements but accused the United States of espionage. According to a North Korean state media report, a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft entered North Korean airspace on Monday with the intent of spying. Pyongyang claims that its airspace has been violated several times by U.S. spy planes in recent days. The U.S. military has not commented on this matter. Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, who was in Seoul to attend Mr. Roh's inauguration, spoke with the new South Korean president. Mr. Powell stated that both countries agreed that diplomacy is the best way to limit North Korea's nuclear ambitions.