U.S. President George W. Bush's "axis of evil" statement in his State of the Union message has worried not only the European Union but also America's Asian allies, particularly Japan and South Korea. South Korean President Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy" toward North Korea is now in danger of collapsing, while Japan's dispute with Pyongyang over the alleged abduction of Japanese civilians by North Korean agents will likely become even more difficult to resolve.
From a global point of view, Bush's statement has serious implications because the renewed U.S. policy of hostility toward Iran, a major power in the Middle East, has made the region even more volatile. It appears that the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are back to square one, with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon assuming a hardline stance. The deterioration in U.S.-Iran relations will likely further weaken the peace process.
Bush's "axis of evil" comment evokes memories of the World War II axis of Germany, Italy and Japan. But bracketing Iran, Iraq and North Korea together as an "evil axis" is a gross exaggeration that could provoke hostility against the United States.