DATE=3/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228077
TITLE=N.KOREA MOBILIZATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA SET ALARM BELLS RINGING AROUND THE WORLD ON
FRIDAY WHEN IT DECLARED IT WAS ON A WAR FOOTING. BUT JOHN LARKIN
REPORTS FROM SEOUL, THE INITIAL CONCERN AT THE DECLARATION IS
FADING.
TEXT: NORTH KOREA'S COMMUNIST REGIME ANNOUNCED IT WAS IN A STATE
OF WHAT IT TERMED "WARTIME MOBILIZATION." THE OUTBURST COINCIDED
WITH ANNUAL MILITARY EXERCISES AND RENEWED PEACE TALKS WITH SOUTH
KOREA IN GENEVA NEXT WEEK.
THE STATE OF EMERGENCY BEGAN AT MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY. FOREIGNERS
IN NORTH KOREA WILL BE CONFINED TO THE CAPITAL OF PYONGYANG,
ACCORDING TO A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT, WHICH ALSO CONDEMNS RECENT
JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR SOUTH KOREA'S MINISTRY FOR DEFENSE PLAYED DOWN
THE DECLARATION, DESCRIBING IT AS PART OF A NORMAL MILITARY
EXERCISE.
A U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THERE IS NO INDICATION OF
UNUSUAL MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNIST NORTH.
NEVERTHELESS, THE REPORT WAS A SCARE FOR DIPLOMATS AND FINANCIAL
MARKETS IN SEOUL.
NORTH KOREA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, LI IN-GYU, TOLD DIPLOMATS
IN BEIJING THE EXERCISE WAS STAGED IN RESPONSE TO A GROWING
THREAT OF FOREIGN INVASION.
MILITARY EXERCISES ARE TRADITIONALLY HELD THIS TIME OF YEAR.
SIRENS WAIL THROUGHOUT PYONGYANG, AND CITIZENS RUN TO AIR-RAID
SHELTERS.
EXPERTS SAY THE REGIME PROBABLY WANTED TO RAISE TENSIONS BEFORE
THE GENEVA TALKS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO TIE THE TWO KOREAS TO A
PERMANENT PEACE TREATY.
THE INCIDENT COMES ALSO AS FAMINE TIGHTENS ITS GRIP ON NORTH
KOREA. LAST WEEK THE NORTH REPORTED IT WILL RUN OUT OF GRAIN
ENTIRELY UNLESS FURTHER SUPPLIES ARE FOUND WITHIN WEEKS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JL/GC/WTW
13-Mar-98 6:28 AM EST (1128 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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