Lack of global institutions posing challenges for Asia: Norwegian official

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- Asia is fast becoming a economic and political powerhouse, but its lack of inter-state institutions capable of addressing global issues is posing new challenges not only for the region, but for the entire world, Norway's vice defense minister said Monday.

Espen Barth Eide said one possible solution could be the six-nation talks on
ending North Korea's nuclear ambition.
"Economic powerhouse of the world will be in Asia, which have several advanced
economies with strong military power and strong political ambitions," the
visiting Norwegian official said in a special lecture at the Korea Institute for
Defense Analyses.
"But very weak inter-state institutions in the region could be a problem," Eide
noted, adding such a lack of institutionalized mechanisms to address global
issues is posing a new security challenge "not only for those living here, but
for all of us."
"We believe security dynamics of the Asian part of the world is rapidly
increasing in importance for all of us...that means the rest of us have to follow
this development," he said at the lecture, also attended by Uzbekistan's
ambassador to Seoul Vitali v. Fen and the top Norwegian diplomat here, Amb.
Didrik Tonseth.
Eide noted the multinational talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions were
now in "trouble," apparently referring to the communist nation's recent
announcement that it was putting its nuclear facilities back into working order.
Still, the Norwegian vice minister said the nuclear disarmament talks were very
important, saying the participants are continuing to work with the forum, which
he said could become a regional institution to deal with issues beyond North
Korea.
"Even if the situation in North Korea is not very promising right now, I think
there is an effort to find a solution among key players of the region," he said.
The nuclear talks are attended by the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China
and Russia. North Korea had been working to disable its key nuclear complex at
Yongbyon under a 2007 accord signed at the six-nation talks, but said last week
it has begun work to reverse the disablement process, accusing the U.S. of
failing to fulfill its end of the deal by removing North Korea from its list of
state sponsors of terror.
The Norwegian vice defense minister arrived here Sunday for talks with his South
Korean counterpart Kim Jong-cheon earlier Monday, where the two signed an
agreement on the protection of defense technology.
He will meet with Seoul's vice foreign minister Tuesday before heading to Japan
the next day.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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