DATE=4/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229307
TITLE=KOREA / TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHOICE OF WHERE TO MEET REMAINS THE ONLY OBSTACLE TO
THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT TALKS IN FOUR YEARS BETWEEN
THE RIVAL STATES OF NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS
FROM SEOUL, NORTH KOREA IS INSISTING THE TALKS BE HELD IN
BEIJING.
TEXT: SOUTH-KOREAN MEDIA REPORTS SAY OFFICIALS INDICATE THEY
WILL BOW TO THE NORTH'S INSISTENCE ON BEIJING AS THE VENUE FOR
TALKS, BECAUSE THEY ARE ANXIOUS NOT TO DERAIL A PROMISING
DEVELOPMENT IN BILATERAL RELATIONS.
THE NEWS REPORTS SAY OFFICIALS MAINTAIN FUTURE MEETINGS BE HELD
ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA. SEOUL USUALLY PREFERS THE TRUCE VILLAGE
OF PANMUNJOM FOR IMPORTANT TALKS.
A SURPRISE OVERTURE BY COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA HAS PAVED THE WAY
FOR THE MEETING, EXPECTED THIS SATURDAY. THE NORTH SUGGESTED
DISCUSSIONS ON FAMINE RELIEF AND RELATED ISSUES. SOUTH KOREA'S
PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED THE INVITATION, BUT
FOR THE MOMENT HIS GOVERNMENT IS MAINTAINING ITS PUBLIC
INSISTENCE ON A KOREAN VENUE.
HOPES OF AN EMERGING THAW IN THE TRADITIONAL HOSTILITY BETWEEN
THE TWO KOREAS WERE AGAIN RAISED (TUESDAY) WITH INDICATIONS THE
NORTH MAY ACCEPT A SOUTH KOREAN PROPOSAL FOR AN EXCHANGE OF
SPECIAL ENVOYS.
A SEMI-OFFICIAL SOUTH-KOREAN PRESS AGENCY QUOTED A SENIOR
COMMUNIST OFFICIAL TELLING A POLITICAL RALLY MONDAY, THAT
PYONGYANG WAS INTERESTED IN RE-OPENING OFFICIAL DIALOGUE.
THE PROPOSAL FOR AN EXCHANGE OF SPECIAL ENVOYS IS PART OF
PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG'S SO-CALLED SUNSHINE POLICY ON NORTH
KOREA, WHICH EMPHASIZES CONCILIATION OVER ANTAGONISM.
ONE OF THE POLICY'S CRUCIAL PLANKS IS THE REUNION OF MILLIONS OF
FAMILIES DIVIDED 45-YEARS AGO BY THE KOREAN WAR. SOUTH KOREA IS
LIKELY TO USE SATURDAY'S SCHEDULED MEETING TO PUSH FOR PROGRESS
ON RE-UNITING SEPARATED FAMILY MEMBERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC/RAE
07-Apr-98 5:19 AM EDT (0919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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