COHEN/KOREA
Voice of America 4/5/97
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST DATELINE=HONOLULU CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS ENROUTE TO ASIA FOR TALKS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS IN TOKYO AND SEOUL ON THE WORSENING SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA. THE DEFENSE CHIEF IS BEING BRIEFED ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS BY U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS IN HAWAII. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM HONOLULU. TEXT: MR. COHEN SAYS NORTH KOREA'S STALINIST GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN A CAPACITY FOR HANGING ON DESPITE DIFFICULTIES, AND COULD STILL BE IN POWER ANOTHER FIVE TO TEN YEARS OR EVEN LONGER. IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS, MR. COHEN SEEMED TO DISMISS FORECASTS OF THE IMMINENT COLLAPSE OF THE PYONGYANG REGIME. BUT SAID THE UNITED STATES AND ITS REGIONAL ALLIES ARE CLOSELY MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS THERE, WITH THE SHARED GOAL OF A PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION OF THE PENINSULA. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY, ON HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE REGION SINCE TAKING OFFICE TWO MONTHS AGO, IS DUE IN SEOUL WEDNESDAY AFTER CONSULTATIONS IN TOKYO. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO DISSUADE SOUTH KOREA FROM ACQUIRING AN ADVANCED ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE -- THE S-A-12 -- FROM RUSSIA. RUSSIA IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE OFFERING THE WEAPONS -- SIMILAR TO U-S PATRIOT MISSILES -- TO HELP PAY OFF A HUGE TRADE DEBT TO SOUTH KOREA. BUT MR. COHEN SAYS THE RUSSIAN MISSILES ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS USED BY U-S AND SOUTH KOREAN FORCES, AND HE SAYS THE PROPOSED DEAL COULD SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR SOUTH KOREA IN WASHINGTON. (SIGNED) NEB/DAG/SD 05-Apr-97 10:29 PM EST (0329 UTC) NNNN .
