DATE=10/12/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NOKOR REPORT - SENATE (L) NUMBER=2-254942 BYLINE=JON TKACH DATELINE=WASHINGTON INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Former Defense Secretary William Perry says North Korea would have at least 50 nuclear weapons if not for the nuclear freeze it agreed to in 1994. In an official report released today (Tuesday), Mr. Perry recommends working with - instead of isolating - North Korea to convince it to end its long range missile program and to keep its search for nuclear capabilities on hold. V-O-A's Jon Tkach reports. TEXT: Mr. Perry says now is the right time for the United States to begin normalizing relations with North Korea. But he says that option will only be possible if Pyongyang continues to forgo testing long-range missiles. Testifying before a Senate sub-committee (East asian and pacific affairs), Mr. Perry said engaging North Korea is the way to go because despite its economic problems, the present regime is here to stay. /// PERRY ACT /// I do not believe the regime is likely to collapse, with or without pressure from the United States. Therefore I believe we must deal with the North Korea regime as it is not as we wish it would be. /// END ACT /// The Clinton administration has already implemented some of Mr. Perry's key recommendations - it eased trade and banking restrictions against the Communist state last month in exchange for North Korea's pledge to halt its missile tests. Despite pushing for talks, Mr. Perry says he advised President Clinton to hold off on reducing the 37 thousand U-S troops presently stationed in South Korea. The former secretary of defense warns that while the U-S and its allies would win a war on the Peninsula, a conflict with North Korea would be long and drawn out - resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, including many U-S soldiers. Mr. Perry says talks are moving ahead following - in his words - "small, positive" steps in negotiations. During the hearing, he also denied claims that the Clinton administration is buying North Korea's cooperation on missile and nuclear development by reducing sanctions and providing famine aid. /// REST OPTIONAL /// Mr. Perry also weighed in on the debate concerning the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty - saying he supported it after safeguards were attached. He says North Korea will likely use the U-S's refusal to ratify the treaty as an excuse to not sign on. (Signed) NEB/JON/TVM/PT 12-Oct-1999 18:49 PM EDT (12-Oct-1999 2249 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
