CLINTON IN ASIA . . . UNITY ON NORTH KOREA

President Clinton, on a two-day jaunt to Indonesia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, downplayed U.S. concerns over human rights in China in favor of an issue on which the 18 participating nations could agree -- enforcing the U.S. nuclear-freeze accord with North Korea. After one-on-one talks with presidents and prime ministers of several Asian countries -- including key U.S. trading partners China, Japan and South Korea -- Clinton won pledges for continued pressure on Pyongyang to halt and ultimately dismantle its nuclear program. (The group has already endorsed the deal; Clinton aides are now negotiating how to enforce and pay for it over the next decade.) The president also brushed off queries about the effects of the GOP landslide on trade relations, promising an "open door" come what may at home. On Tuesday's agenda: U.S. officials expect endorsement of a statement calling for "open and free trade" throughout the region by the year 2020. BTW: U.S. trade with Asia, home to the world's fastest growing economies, is triple that with European countries.Post your opinion on theInternationalbulletin board.