FT: If we could start with North Korea which is something the whole world is interested in or anxious about. The North Koreans have said they going to launch a missile or satellite, depending on what one believes. The Japanese are now saying they are prepared to shoot it down. Do you support the Japanese position? Should the West show strength or would it be provocative to shoot down what Kim Jong-il says is a satellite?

LMB: First of all, I think all countries in the world have agreed it is not in anyone’s interest to test-fire a missile, or whatever its is. All members of the six-party talks, including China and Russia are of the same mind. However, there are some people who say this may be a space launch vehicle. If North Korea did not have a desire of acquiring nuclear weapons, then I think North Korea’s stated intention of launching a space launch vehicle would cause no qualms but the truth of the matter is North Korea does have a desire to develop nuclear weapons so this does precisely make it a very serious concern for them to acquire the technology to deliver nuclear weapons. As for your question about Japan’s publicly stated intention to shoot it down, I don’t know the specifics, but I think the Japanese are rightly concerned because this object will travel inevitably through their airspace and will have the possibility of falling into their territorial waters. So, I those terms I think the Japanese government has it as their intention and responsibility to protect their own citizens and that is one of the reasons why they have stated an intention to shoot down anything that flies out of Korea.