Asahi Shimbun (Tokyo), Sept. 20
Representatives of the six nations taking part in talks in Beijing over North Korea’s nuclear development have finally issued a joint statement, the product of extremely hard labor.
The biggest news for Japan and the rest of the international community is that the joint statement contains North Korea’s promise to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.
But the road ahead will no doubt be bumpy.
The six countries did nothing other than broadly agree on the future goal of negotiations. But no agreement was reached on how to reach that goal. The latest accord means that the six countries have come to the starting line. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to underestimate the accord. …
Steady steps forward must be taken on the basis of this agreement. The first thing that must be done is to stop the nuclear facilities now in operation in North Korea.