Bush says N. Korea still in “axis of evil,” takes on human rights
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—President George W. Bush was in South Korea today where he stated that North Korea remains as part of the “axis of evil” despite recent efforts by Pyongyang to reverse its antagonistic status.
By: IranVNC
Published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
13:01GMT—9:01AM/EST
OLYMPICS – BUSH - HUMAN RIGHTS – CHINA – NORTH KOREA
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—President George W. Bush was in South Korea today where he stated that North Korea remains as part of the “axis of evil” despite recent efforts by Pyongyang to reverse its antagonistic status.
“In order to get off the list, the ‘axis of evil’ list, then the North Korean leader is going to have to make certain decisions,” said Bush today, Reuters reports.
North Korea recently complied with the demands of major powers to disclose its nuclear technology and dismantle its program for enriching nuclear materials. However, Bush cites its human rights record and tentative cooperation in the nuclear standoff as caveats for its removal from the blacklist.
After a meeting with the South Korean president, Bush said: “I told the president I’m concerned about North Korea’s human rights record. I’m concerned about its uranium enrichment activities as well as its nuclear testing and proliferation and its ballistic missile programs,” AFP reports.
Human rights have loomed over the topics President Bush is tackling during his ongoing visit to Asia. In Thailand today, the president turned his focus to Myanmar and on, what he called, the “outpost of tyranny” of the governing junta faction in that country.
“Together, we seek an end to tyranny in Burma” said Bush, who has pushed for tightening sanctions against Myanmar as a way to isolate the junta leader, Than Shwe.
However, critics assert that the attempts at isolation have brought about utter distrust of the outside world, which prompted the junta’s refusal of international assistance when a cyclone killed nearly 134,000 people there last May.
Bush’s stop in Thailand, where he met the king, the queen, and the prime minister, comes ahead of his visit to China for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
In Bangkok today, Bush is expected to give a speech in which he directly criticizes China for its policies on human rights.
He says in his released remarks, according to AP: “The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings.” He is expected to say: “So America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activist.”
The criticism is the strongest from Bush thus far, and as tension escalates, human rights groups have called for an international boycott of the Olympic Games over China’s human rights record.
Earlier this week, Bush praised China for its positive effort in dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and for its part in the six-part talks with North Korea. Bush will be in China tomorrow, and has promised not to politicize the Olympics Games, Reuters reports
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press, White House website
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