DATE=2/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226973
TITLE=KOREA/ OVERTURE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=KATE WILTROUT
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WITH LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT KIM
DAE-JUNG TAKES OFFICE IN SOUTH KOREA, NORTH KOREA APPEARS TO BE
WARMING UP TOWARD THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION. KATE WILTROUT
REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT NORTH KOREA HAS EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO
HAVE DIALOGUE WITH SOUTH KOREA.
TEXT: IN A REPORT CARRIED BY ITS OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS
AGENCY OR K-C-N-A, PYONGYANG'S COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT DECLARED
WEDNESDAY THAT IT IS READY TO END AN ERA OF CONFRONTATION WITH
ITS SOUTHERN RIVAL.
THE K-C-N-A REPORT QUOTED KIM YONG SUN, A TOP NORTH KOREAN POLICY
MAKER, AS TELLING A JOINT MEETING OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS IN PYONGYANG, THAT THE NORTH IS WILLING TO HAVE
DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION WITH ANYONE IN SOUTH KOREA. HE WAS
ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES MUST PROMOTE
CO-EXISTENCE, CO-PROSPERITY AND COMMON INTERESTS.
ON THURSDAY, A MESSAGE ADOPTED AT THAT MEETING WAS DELIVERED TO A
SOUTH KOREAN RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE, THROUGH THE TRUCE VILLAGE
OF PANMUNJOM, IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE.
THE STATEMENT COULD SIGNAL A CHANGE OF POLICY IN NORTH KOREA,
WHICH HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE
SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT, CALLING IT A PUPPET OF THE UNITED
STATES. PRESIDENT-ELECT KIM DAE JUNG'S POLITICAL PARTY WELCOMED
THE NORTH KOREAN MOVE, SAYING IT IS "A SIGN OF CHANGE IN THE
NORTH'S ATTITUDE."
CHOI JINWOOK IS AN ANALYST AT THE KOREA INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL
REUNIFICATION. HE SAYS THAT THE K-C-N-A REPORT, WHICH FOLLOWS
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA WILL WORK
TO REUNITE SEPARATED FAMILIES, SHOWS THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
TWO ENEMIES MAY BE THAWING.
BUT OFFICIALS AT SOUTH KOREA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL UNIFICATION ARE EXPRESSING CAUTION ABOUT THE
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL'S REMARKS. THEY POINT TO THE CONDITIONS
ATTACHED TO THE OFFER. THE NORTH MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO
RECONCILIATION COULD BE EXPECTED WHILE SOUTH KOREA REMAINED
DEPENDENT ON "FOREIGN FORCES" -- A REFERENCE TO THE 37-THOUSAND
U-S TROOPS STATIONED IN THE COUNTRY. NORTH KOREA ALSO REPEATED
DEMANDS THAT THE SOUTH KOREAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY BE DISBANDED,
AND SEOUL'S TOUGH NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS BE REVOKED.
KIM YOUNG-MIN, A DEPUTY SPOKESMAN AT THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL
UNIFICATION IN SEOUL, SAYS THE K-C-N-A REPORT DOES NOT SEEM TO
REPRESENT A CHANGE IN NORTH KOREAN POLICY. HE ADDED IT IS TOO
EARLY TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THE SPOKESMAN FOR SOUTH KOREA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAID
NORTH KOREA HAS MADE SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PAST AND THE
LATEST IS JUST A REPETITION OF WHAT THEY PROPOSED LAST YEAR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/KW/FC/WFR
19-Feb-98 4:38 AM EST (0938 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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