North Korea Wants Indonesia to Get Involved

A South Koreas AH-1S Cobra helicopter fires rockets during the Army Aviation Shooting Match in Yangpyoung, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. North Korea called for "unconditional and early" talks with rival South Korea to put an end to months of tensions. Seoul quickly dismissed the offer as insincere and said its waiting for an apology for two deadly attacks blamed on Pyongyang.

- North Korea has asked Indonesia to help create peace in the Korean Peninsula, Taufiq Kiemas, chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), said.

"North Korea hopes Indonesia could constribute to creating peace in the Korean peninsula," he said after receiving North Korean ambassador Jong Chun Gun at the parliament building here on Thursday.

Taufik said during the meeting the North Korean ambassador asked Indonesia through the MPR leadership to contribute to creating peace in the peninsula. According to him Jong Chun Gun said North Korea had been tired of dealing with conflict with South Korea for the past 60 yeers.

Taufik said Indonesia had tried to help make peace between North and South Koreas during the government of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"North Korea ambassador hopes the conflict between North and South Koreas could immediately be brought to an end because the conflict could affect Asian countries including Indonesia," he said.

Taufiq said during the meeting the North Korean ambassador also explained that the nuclear weapons his country produced was not intended for attacking other countries. North Korea produces nuclear weapons, he said, for defending itself from attacks from South Korea and the United States.

In response to the North Korean request, Taufiq said Indonesia would continue to play a role to help create peace in the peninsula.

"Helping create peace in the world has become the country’s commitment mandated by the constitution," he said. During the meeting Jong Chun Gun also explained about the progress achieved by that country including in the fields of agriculture and industry.