DATE=12/9/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223914
TITLE=KOREA TALKS / NEW PHASE (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FIRST DAY OF KOREAN PEACE TALKS TOOK PLACE TODAY
(TUESDAY) IN GENEVA. DIPLOMATS SAY THE TALKS MARK THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW POST-COLD-WAR PHASE IN DEALING WITH THE TENSE MILITARY
SITUATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA. IN THIS REPORT FROM GENEVA,
V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON EXAMINES THE CHANGING SITUATION ON THE KOREAN
PENINSULA.
TEXT: WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE GENEVA TALKS MARK THE BEGINNING
OF A SHIFT ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, FROM MILITARY CONFRONTATION
TOWARDS DIALOG. FOR NORTH KOREA, THIS COULD MEAN INCREASED AID
TO ALLEVIATE ITS FOOD SHORTAGE AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. THE
UNITED STATES HOPES TO ACHIEVE A REDUCTION IN MILITARY TENSION ON
THE KOREAN PENINSULA. AND SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA BOTH SEE THE
TALKS AS A POSSIBLE MEANS FOR AVOIDING MASSIVE REFUGEE AND
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THAT COULD OCCUR IF THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME
COLLAPSES.
THE THEME OF A NEW PHASE WAS BROUGHT UP JUST BEFORE THE GENEVA
TALKS BEGAN, IN REMARKS MADE BY SWITZERLAND'S STATE SECRETARY FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, JAKOB KELLENBERGER.
/// KELLENBERGER ///
THESE TALKS ARE THE RESULT OF NINE MONTHS OF
CONSULTATIONS AND PREPARATORY MEETINGS IN THE UNITED
STATES AND HAVE INSPIRED HIGH HOPES IN THE WHOLE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSIONS
YOU INITIATED IN NEW YORK ON FIVE MARCH 1997, I FEEL
THAT THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE. NUMEROUS
OBSERVERS HERALDED THIS EVENT AS THE POSSIBLE DAWNING OF
A NEW PROCESS.
/// END ACT ///
CHINESE NEGOTIATORS SAY THE GENEVA TALKS OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LIFT WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS THE DARK SHADOW OF THE COLD WAR
HANGING OVER THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
KOREA EXPERTS SAY THE KEY TO LIFTING THIS COLD WAR SHADOW IS THE
DETERMINATION OF COMMON OBJECTIVES AMONG THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN
THE CONFLICT. THIS SAME STRATEGY-- FOCUSSING ON SHARED INTERESTS
WHILE PUTTING ASIDE DIFFERENCES - WAS USED BY CHINA AND THE
UNITED STATES TO BUILD BILATERAL TIES IN THE 1970'S.
IN THE GENEVA TALKS, THE MAIN OBJECTIVE SHARED BY THE FOUR
NEGOTIATING PARTIES IS THE DESIRE TO PREVENT NORTH KOREA FROM
ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL COLLAPSE.
A DECADE AGO, THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA MAY HAVE WELCOMED
SUCH A DEVELOPMENT. BUT TODAY, WESTERN SECURITY INTERESTS ARE
SEEN AS BEING BETTER SERVED BY HELPING NORTH KOREA GRADUALLY
RECOVER WHILE EXPANDING ITS TIES WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
THIS STRATEGY IS PARTICULARLY APPEALING TO SOUTH KOREA,
CONSIDERING ITS FINANCIAL TROUBLES, AS IT DOES NOT HAVE THE
ECONOMIC MEANS TO SUCCESSFULLY ABSORB THE NORTH AT THIS TIME.
CHINA IS HOPING TO IMPROVE REGIONAL STABILITY BY HELPING NORTH
KOREA ESTABLISH SOME FORM OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY. FOR CHINA, A
COLLAPSE OF THE NORTH WOULD MOVE U-S TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA
CLOSER TO ITS BORDER AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN INFLUX OF REFUGEES
FROM NORTH KOREA.
EXPERTS SAY NORTH KOREA'S MAIN SHORT TERM GOAL IN PARTICIPATING
IN THE TALKS IS TO GET MORE FOOD AND ECONOMIC AID, PRIMARILY FROM
THE UNITED STATES. BUT U-S AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS REMAIN
CONCERNED THAT ONCE NORTH KOREA REGAINS SOME OF ITS ECONOMIC
STRENGTH, IT COULD RESUME A CONFRONTATIONAL MILITARY POLICY WITH
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF OVERTHROWING THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MPR/TMD/PT
09-Dec-97 5:17 PM EST (2217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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