Tracking Number: 129225
Title: "US Awaiting DPRK Response to 1988 Steps." US has no new policy initiatives toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) except to reiterate Secretary of State
Baker's February 1 testimony before Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (900220)
Author: HOLDEN, ROBERT (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19900220
Text:
*EPF209
02/20/90 * U.S. AWAITING DPRK RESPONSE TO 1988 STEPS (860) (Article on background briefing at Library of Congress) By Robert F. Holden USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- While the United States did not expect an immediate response to its October 1988 efforts to draw North Korea out of its isolation, it is nevertheless disappointed that North Korea still has not responded to its overtures in a meaningful way, an administration official said.
Speaking on background February 20 to a group at the Library of Congress, the official said that the United States has no new policy initiatives toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) except to reiterate Secretary of State James Baker's February 1 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Our security commitment to the Republic of Korea (ROK) remains essential to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. We believe that the key to a reduction of tension and eventual reunification lies in productive South-North dialogue. In this regard, we firmly support President Roh's initiatives to draw the North out of its isolation, " Baker told the Committee.
"Since October 1988, we have opened dialogue and taken other steps toward Pyongyang. We are looking for a steady, reciprocal process toward better relations both between North and South Korea and between the U.S. and North Korea."
The U.S. opening to North Korea in October 1988 included four steps:
-- The United States now encourages unofficial, non- governmental visits from the DPRK in academic, sports, culture and other areas, and has already granted visas to several North Korean academic and religious delegations. (Family reunions could be included under this policy, but the DPRK does not permit its citizens to travel for family reunions.)
-- To facilitate travel of U.S. citizens to the DPRK, the United States now permits travel services to arrange exchanges and group travel on a case-by-case basis.
-- Trade regulations have been revised to permit certain commercial exports to the DPRK of goods that meet basic human needs, such as food, clothing and medical supplies.
-- Finally, U.S. diplomats may hold substantive discussions with their DPRK counterparts in neutral settings. U.S. and DPRK political counselors in Beijing have held several meetings since December 1988.
The official noted that the United States still holds North Korea responsible for the bombing of Korean Airlines Flight 858. Thus it has not removed North Korea from its
GE 2 epf209 list of states supporting terrorism, nor has it lifted its general embargo on commercial trade with North Korea.
According to the official, during the course of their discussions with DPRK officials in Beijing, U.S. diplomats suggested six areas in which North Korea could take steps which the United States would regard as positive:
1) Constructive South-North dialogue. The United States, the officials said, believes that direct dialogue between the South and North is an essential first step toward resolving their differences. Recently, however, the DPRK cut back on all South-North dialogue activities until cessation of the annual U.S.-ROK joint military maneuvers ("Team Spirit"), despite the fact that those maneuvers were cut back by 10 percent.
2) Return of Korean Conflict MIA remains through the Military Armistice Commission. Pyongyang, the official confirmed, had offered to turn over some remains to the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, but the general American position is that remains should be returned through the Military Armistice Commission.
3) Cessation of vituperative anti-U.S. propaganda. This, the official said citing recent statements in Pyongyang, seems to have toned down a bit.
4) Serious discussion of confidence-building measures along the demilitarized zone (DMZ). These could include removal of propaganda signs, disarming DMZ guards, true demilitarization for the DMZ, joint incident investigation teams, and developing a verification system for the armistice, the official said.
5) A credible statement of DPRK opposition to terrorism. The United States is not looking for an act of contrition, the official said, just a promise of no more terrorist activity.
6) Conclusion by the DPRK of a Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) nuclear safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. North Korea signed the NPT in 1985, the official said, but it still has not met its fissionable materials disclosure obligations concerning its nuclear program.
Asked by the audience why the list contained no references to human rights in North Korea, the official responded that since there are no official relations between the United States and North Korea, talk of specific issues -- including trade relations -- was premature. The six areas, the official said, comprised a rather "modest" agenda and progress must be made on those areas before moving on to more substantive topics.
During the U.S.-DPRK discussions in Beijing, North Korea usually has an agenda of its own which includes such items as cessation of "Team Spirit" exercises and withdrawal of U.S. forces from the South, the official said.
While the discussions in Beijing were worth holding, the official said, the results thus far have been disappointing. Both sides "talk past each other," he said.
GE 3 epf209 "We still await positive steps by North Korea in response to our October 1988 measures." NNNN
File Identification: 02/20/90, EP-209
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: KOREA (NORTH)-US RELATIONS/Policy; BAKER, JAMES/East Asia & Pacific;
ROH TAE-WOO; KOREA (NORTH)-KOREA (SOUTH) RELATIONS; MISSING IN ACTION; PROPAGANDA; CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES; NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT); TERRORISM TC>140; 1AC
Target Areas: EA
PDQ Text Link: 129225
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