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DATE=4/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229127
TITLE=NORTH KOREA MISSILES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A WASHINGTON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH GROUP HAS ISSUED A 
REPORT WHICH CONCLUDES THE THREAT FROM NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN OVERSTATED.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 
DAVID DYAR REPORTS, THE STUDY SAYS NORTH KOREA MIGHT BE MORE 
READY TO SIGN AN ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT 
-- IF WASHINGTON WOULD BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN ITS NEGOTIATIONS.
TEXT:  A STUDY BY THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS SAYS NORTH 
KOREA MAY BE READY TO NEGOTIATE RESTRICTIONS ON ITS LONG-RANGE 
MISSILE PROGRAM FOR THE RIGHT INCENTIVES.  RESEARCHER DAVID 
WRIGHT SAYS NORTH KOREA'S FAILURE TO TEST ITS LONG-RANGE MISSILE 
-- THE NODONG -- FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS IS ONE OF SEVERAL 
FACTORS THAT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE SERIOUSNESS OF PYONGYANG'S 
MISSILE PROGRAM. 
                       /// WRIGHT ACT ///
         I THINK THE MISSILE PROGRAM IS A POTENTIAL THREAT.  BUT 
         I THINK THAT IT IS  NOT  AS FAR ALONG AS PEOPLE IN THE 
         U-S ARE SAYING.  AND FOR THAT REASON I THINK THAT, NOW, 
         IS THE TIME TO NEGOTIATE AGGRESSIVELY.  I THINK THERE IS
         A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, WHILE THE MISSILE PROGRAMS ARE 
         STILL SORT OF IN THEIR INFANCY, WHERE A FLIGHT TEST BAN 
         AND OTHER THINGS YOU CAN NEGOTIATE AND VERIFY COULD HAVE
         A BIG IMPACT ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. WRIGHT IS A PHYSICIST WHO HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ON ARMS 
CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.  HE SAID ONE INCENTIVE THAT 
MIGHT INDUCE NORTH KOREA TO RESTRICT ITS MISSILE DEVELOPMENT 
WOULD BE AN EASING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
NORTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE ENGAGED IN TALKS IN THE 
PAST ON MISSILE PROLIFERATION AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT 
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE DISCUSSED THE IDEA OF EASING ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS.  BUT MR. WRIGHT SAYS U-S OFFICIALS DO  NOT  APPEAR TO 
HAVE EXPLORED, IN DETAIL, WHAT INCENTIVES NORTH KOREA MIGHT FIND 
ACCEPTABLE.
                        /// REST OPT ///
HE SAYS THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES MAKES 
IT DIFFICULT TO OFFER NORTH KOREA FURTHER DIRECT ECONOMIC 
ASSISTANCE.  MANY LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON OPPOSE MAKING ANY DEALS
WITH NORTH KOREA BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD 
AND ITS INTENTION TO BE A WORLD ARMS DEALER. (SIGNED)
NEB/DWD/JO
02-Apr-98 11:44 AM EST (1644 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.