DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233616
TITLE=CLINTON / SOUTH KOREA (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS PLEDGING HIS SUPPORT FOR SOUTH KOREAN
PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG AND HIS EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO THE
COMMUNIST NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT IN PYONGYANG. THE TWO LEADERS
HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER TALKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. V-O-A'S
DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAID PRESIDENT KIM DID NOT ASK FOR AN IMMEDIATE
END TO U-S ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA, BUT HE DID
SEEK -- AND OBTAIN -- A U-S ENDORSEMENT OF HIS EFFORTS AT
RECONCILIATION WITH PYONGYANG.
APPEARING AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH HIS SOUTH KOREAN
COUNTERPART, MR. CLINTON SAID THEY DISCUSSED THE APPROACH TO
NORTH KOREA WITH REAL CANDOR:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
PRESIDENT KIM DID NOT ASK ME TO LIFT SANCTIONS. WHAT HE
ASKED ME TO DO WAS TO WORK WITH HIM TO SUPPORT A POLICY
OF RECIPROCITY -- WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE RECONCILIATION OF THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH. AND
I SAID I WOULD BE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
///END ACT///
THE SOUTH KOREAN LEADER -- MAKING HIS VISIT U-S VISIT SINCE
TAKING OFFICE IN FEBRUARY -- SAID HE WANTED TO FORGE AN
ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH THE NORTH KOREANS CAN BE INDUCED TO OPEN UP
THEIR CLOSED SOCIETY AND TO ENCOURAGE MODERATE ELEMENTS THERE.
MR. KIM SAID THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE NORTH IS RELATIVELY
STABLE BUT -- HEARD HERE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- HE SAID IT IS
IMPORTANT TO WARD OFF FURTHER DETERIORATION IN WHAT HE WAS A
"VERY BAD" ECONOMIC AND FOOD SITUATION:
///KIM ACTUALITY///
IF IT REMAINS IN SUCH A HARD SITUATION, IT MAY DECIDE TO
GO THE ROAD OF MILITARY PROVOCATION. OR IF IT STAYS THE
COURSE, IT MAY SIMPLY COLLAPSE. AND THAT WILL FALL ON
OUR LAP. SO FOR PEACE, FOR STABILITY ON THE KOREAN
PENINSULA WE NEED TO INDUCE NORTH KOREA TO OPEN UP AND
REGAIN THE STRENGTH TO LIVE AND GROW ON ITS OWN. AND WE
HAVE TO HELP IT IN DOING SO.
///END ACT///
PRESIDENT CLINTON PAID TRIBUTE TO MR. KIM'S EFFORTS TO OPEN SOUTH
KOREA'S ECONOMY TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND RECOVER FROM ITS OWN
ECONOMIC CRISIS -- WHICH HE DEPICTED AS MERELY "A BUMP ON THE
ROAD" FOR A COUNTRY THAT HAS ENJOYED DECADES OF REMARKABLE
GROWTH.
HE ANNOUNCED THAT SOUTH KOREA WILL AGAIN BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR
INVESTMENT GUARANTEES FROM THE U-S OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT
CORPORATION AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR SUSPENSION DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT
SOUTH KOREAN LABOR CONDITIONS. THE DELEGATIONS ALSO SIGNED AN
OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT TO LIBERALIZE AIR SERVICE BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/WDC/JO
09-Jun-98 5:52 PM EDT (2152 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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