Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/07/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-296186

TITLE=KOREAS TALKS (SHORT)

BYLINE=AMY BICKERS

DATELINE=TOKYO

CONTENT=

INTRO: South Korean officials warn that the North's nuclear weapons program could damage joint economic projects. As V-O-A's Northeast Asia Correspondent Amy Bickers reports, the comments come as a two-day inter-Korean economic meeting opens in Pyongyang.

TEXT: South Korea said Thursday that economic projects could be delayed unless North Korea quickly addresses international concerns over its nuclear weapons program.

The North recently told the United States that it was developing nuclear weapons.

The chief South Korean delegate is reported to have said the nuclear issue should be resolved soon. His Northern counterpart was quoted as saying his country was seriously contemplating the issue but did not elaborate.

Economic projects under discussion include transportation links and the construction of an inter-Korean industrial park.

Graeme Bateman is an analyst with Normura Securities in Seoul.

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You also have quite a lot of natural resources that are unexploited in North Korea, which would obviously benefit the South.

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South Korea's aid program to the impoverished North is also on the meeting's agenda. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/AB/KPD