DATE=7/14/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-251744 TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA (L-O) BYLINE=KARRIN AMODEO DATELINE=TOKYO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI IS WARNING THAT ANOTHER LONG-RANGE MISSILE TEST BY NORTH KOREA WOULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT REGIONAL SECURITY AND HURT PYONGYANG'S OWN INTERESTS. THE WARNING COMES AS JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES COORDINATE THEIR POSITION ON A POSSIBLE TEST FIRE BY THE RECLUSIVE COMMUNIST STATE. KARRIN AMODEO REPORTS FROM TOKYO. TEXT: MR. OBUCHI TOLD A PARLIAMENTARY PANEL HERE ON WEDNESDAY THAT ANY TEST MISSILE LAUNCH WILL HAVE A SERIOUS EFFECT ON JAPAN'S SECURITY AND NORTHEAST ASIA'S PEACE AND PROSPERITY. HE ADDED THAT NORTH KOREA'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD ALSO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. LAST AUGUST, NORTH KOREA TEST-FIRED A MISSILE THAT FLEW OVER JAPAN AND LANDED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. ANALYSTS SAY THE TEST-FIRING OF ANOTHER MISSILE POSES NOT JUST SECURITY PROBLEMS FOR JAPAN -- BUT POLITICAL ONES AS WELL. MR. OBUCHI REPEATED EARLIER COMMENTS THAT A TEST FIRE COULD SWAY PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST JAPAN'S PLANNED CONTRIBUTION OF ONE BILLION DOLLARS FOR TWO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN NORTH KOREA. UNDER A 1994 AGREEMENT, NORTH KOREA GETS FIVE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FREE FUEL AND TWO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IF IT FREEZES ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER MASAHIKO KOMURA AND DEFENSE AGENCY CHIEF HOSEI NORATA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAM. MR. OBUCHI HAS ALSO ASKED CHINA AND MONGOLIA TO RELATE JAPAN'S CONCERNS TO THE NORTH. PYONGYANG ON TUESDAY CRITICIZED JAPAN FOR SEEKING DIPLOMATIC HELP IN THIS MATTER, ADDING THAT IT IS MERELY LAUNCHING SATELLITES, WHICH IS ITS SOVEREIGN RIGHT. (SIGNED) NEB/KA/GC/JO/KL 14-Jul-99 6:46 AM EDT (1046 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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