DATE=4/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230419
TITLE=NORTH KOREA/ OLIVE BRANCH (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=KATE WILTROUT
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN A RARE PEACE OVERTURE, NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-IL
IS CALLING FOR IMPROVED TIES WITH SOUTH KOREA. KATE WILTROUT
REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT THE NORTH KOREAN LEADER SAYS HE WANTS TO
ESTABLISH A WIDE-RANGING DIALOGUE TO PROMOTE COMMON INTERESTS
WITH THE SOUTH.
TEXT: IN A STATEMENT REPORTED BY NORTH KOREAN MEDIA ON
WEDNESDAY, LEADER KIM JONG-IL SAID RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND
SOUTH KOREA MUST BE IMPROVED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE UNITY OF THE
NATION.
ALL KOREANS, WHETHER IN THE NORTH, SOUTH OR ABROAD, HE SAID, MUST
VISIT ONE ANOTHER, HOLD CONTACTS, PROMOTE DIALOGUE AND STRENGTHEN
SOLIDARITY.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE RECLUSIVE NORTH KOREAN LEADER HAS
STATED HIS COUNTRY'S POLICY TOWARD SOUTH KOREA SINCE BECOMING
GENERAL-SECRETARY OF THE COUNTRY'S WORKER'S PARTY LAST OCTOBER.
SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY THE TIMING OF THE STATEMENT IS
SIGNIFICANT, COMING AFTER NEWLY ELECTED SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT
KIM DAE-JUNG EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE TIES WITH
PYONGYANG.
THE STATEMENT CAME IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO PARTICIPANTS IN A
NORTH KOREAN-ORGANIZED SYMPOSIUM ON UNIFICATION. THE LETTER IS
THOUSANDS OF WORDS LONG AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY SIGNIFICANT
NEW PROPOSALS FOR PEACE BETWEEN THE KOREAS.
THE TWO NATIONS HAVE TECHNICALLY BEEN AT WAR SINCE THE KOREAN
CONFLICT ENDED IN A CEASE-FIRE IN 1953. MR. KIM ALSO REPEATED
NORTH KOREA'S LONG-STANDING DEMANDS THAT SOUTH KOREA'S CAPITALIST
GOVERNMENT ABOLISH ITS NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS AND DISBAND ITS
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.
THE PEACE OVERTURE COMES TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST HIGH-LEVEL
CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS SINCE 1994. VICE-MINISTERIAL
TALKS PROPOSED BY THE NORTH BROKE DOWN IN BEIJING ON APRIL 14TH,
HOWEVER, WHEN THE NORTH REFUSED TO ACCEPT SOUTH KOREAN DEMANDS
FOR FAMILY REUNIONS IN RETURN FOR FERTILIZER AID.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN FEBRUARY, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM
DAE-JUNG HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A SO-CALLED "SUNSHINE POLICY" TOWARD
NORTH KOREA. HE INSISTS THAT THE SOUTH HAS NO INTENTION OF
ABSORBING THE NORTH AND HAS CALLED FOR MORE DIALOGUE WITH
PYONGYANG. (SIGNED)
NEB/KW/GC/FC/RRM
29-Apr-98 5:09 AM EDT (0909 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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