DATE= 10/14/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221241
TITLE=U-S-KOREA (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS DONATING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS (INTERNATIONAL) CHILDRENS (EMERGENCY) FUND
(UNICEF) FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO BE SENT TO NORTH KOREAN
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT ON THE PROSPECTS FOR MORE AMERICAN FOOD AID TO NORTH
KOREA.
TEXT: DESPITE THE CURRENT STALEMATE IN THE KOREAN PEACE TALKS,
THE UNITED STATES EXPECTS TO RESPOND NEXT MONTH TO A NEW APPEAL
FOR FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA. THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IS EXPECTED
TO MAKE THE APPEAL EVEN THOUGH THE CURRENT HARVEST HAS RELIEVED
THE WORST OF THE FAMINE THAT HAS HIT THE COUNTRY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES A BREAK FROM THE FAMINE IS ONLY
TEMPORARY AND HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW CONTRIBUTION OF FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS TO UNICEF TO HELP NORTH KOREAN CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS AND
CLINICS.
AN AMERICAN AID OFFICIAL HAD QUESTIONED FUTURE AMERICAN FOOD
DELIVERIES TO NORTH KOREA BECAUSE OF PYONGYANG'S DELAY IN
APPROVING VISAS FOR ENOUGH OFFICIALS TO MONITOR THE DELIVERY OF
THE FOOD AID. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE
UNITED STATES HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE MONITORING SYSTEM EVEN IF
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH MONITORS.
///RUBIN ACT///
THE CRITICAL ISSUE HERE IS CONFIDENCE. WE HAVE
CONFIDENCE THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DIVERSION
USING THE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. WE
ALWAYS WANT MORE MONITORS SO WE HAVE GREATER CONFIDENCE
THAT NONE OF THE FOOD IS BEING DIVERTED. SO WE DO WANT
MORE MONITORING. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NORTH
KOREANS ON VISA ISSUES AND OTHERS BUT THE IDEA THAT THIS
VISA ISSUE HAD CRASHED OUR CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO
MONITOR THE (FOOD) PROGRAM IS INCORRECT.
///END ACT///
NORTH KOREAN DEMANDS FOR MORE FOOD DELIVERIES AS WELL AS THE
WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS FROM SOUTH KOREA HAVE BEEN BLAMED
BY AMERICAN OFFICIALS FOR THE DELAY IN OPENING FOUR PARTY PEACE
TALKS AMONG THE TWO KOREAS, CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS DENYING A PUBLISHED REPORT THAT
AN ADDITIONAL DELAY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY SOUTH
KOREA'S PRE-OCCUPATION WITH NEXT DECEMBER'S PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. SPOKESMAN RUBIN DENIES THE UNITED STATES HAS ANY
PROBLEM NEGOTIATING WITH THE CURRENT SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT.
///RUBIN ACT///
THERE IS NO GAP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
REPUBLIC OF KOREA. SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES
HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OFFICIALS AT ALL
LEVELS IN DISCUSSING THE VARIOUS ISSUES IN PLAY, WHETHER
IT'S FOOD AID, WHETHER IT'S WHAT THE LONG TERM AGENDA
SHOULD BE IN KOREA (PEACE TALKS) AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY AND COOPERATIVELY ON THIS INITIATIVE.
BOTH SIDES CONSULT REGULARLY, EXTENSIVELY AND
INTENSIVELY WITH EACH OTHER.
///END ACT///
MR. RUBIN ALSO DENIES THE UNITED STATES FAVORS A VICTORY BY
OPPOSITION LEADER KIM DAE JUNG AS A WAY TO SPUR PEACE TALKS WITH
NORTH KOREA, INSISTING THE UNITED STATES WILL WORK WITH ANY
LEADER ELECTED BY SOUTH KOREANS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/MMK
14-Oct-97 3:14 PM EDT (1914 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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