DATE= 11/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223075
TITLE=KOREA TALKS AGREEMENT / UPDATE (S & L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS AGREED TO HOLD TALKS NEXT MONTH WITH
SOUTH KOREA, THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ON ESTABLISHING A PEACE
TREATY FOR THE KOREAN PENINSULA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON
REPORTS THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED DURING PREPARATORY NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN THE FOUR PARTIES TODAY (FRIDAY) IN NEW YORK.
TEXT: AFTER MORE THAN FIVE HOURS OF DISCUSSIONS, CHIEF DELEGATES
FROM THE FOUR PARTIES ANNOUNCED THEIR AGREEMENT TO HOLD FORMAL
PEACE TALKS ON DECEMBER NINTH IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.
U-S DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE CHARLES KARTMAN READ A
JOINT STATEMENT.
/// KARTMAN ACTUALITY ///
THE AGENDA OF THE FOUR-PARTY TALKS WILL BE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PEACE REGIME ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA
AND ISSUES CONCERNING TENSION-REDUCTION THERE.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED DURING A THIRD ROUND OF PREPARATORY
TALKS IN NEW YORK. PREVIOUS ROUNDS FAILED WHEN NORTH KOREA
DEMANDED EMERGENCY FOOD AID AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF U-S TROOPS FROM
SOUTH KOREA. THE U-S SIDE REJECTED THOSE DEMANDS.
/// REST OPT ///
THE GENEVA TALKS WILL BE AIMED AT ESTABLISHING A FORMAL PEACE
TREATY TO REPLACE THE 1953 ARMISTICE THAT ENDED THE FIGHTING IN
THE KOREAN WAR. WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THEY HOPE THE TALKS WILL
ALSO HELP RELIEVE TENSION IN WHAT IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY
MILITARIZED REGIONS OF THE WORLD. THE TALKS WERE FIRST PROPOSED
BY THE U-S AND SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTS IN APRIL 1996.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRST ROUND OF GENEVA TALKS IS LIKELY TO BE
BRIEF, FOCUSING ON PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND ESTABLISHING A
STRUCTURE FOR FUTURE TALKS. THEY EXPECT THE TALKS WILL COVER MANY
SESSIONS OVER A PERIOD OF AT LEAST A FEW YEARS.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE AGREEMENT TO HOLD TALKS WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY A CHANGED ATTITUDE ON THE NORTH KOREAN SIDE. THEY SAY NORTH
KOREAN OFFICIALS CAME TO THESE NEGOTIATIONS WITH A SERIOUSNESS
ABSENT IN EARLIER MEETINGS.
THE TIMING OF THE GENEVA TALKS IS IMPORTANT, AS IT COMES JUST
OVER ONE WEEK BEFORE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN SOUTH KOREA.
DIPLOMATS SAY THE TIMING IS AIMED AT ENSURING SOUTH KOREA IS
COMMITED TO THE TALKS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR A NEW PRESIDENT TO
CHANGE AN ALREADY-ESTABLISHED POLICY. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/MR/RRM
21-Nov-97 5:09 PM EST (2209 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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