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DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235300
TITLE=SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS NORTH KOREA'S 
MILITARY IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY POWERFUL IN CONTROLLING EVENTS 
IN THE ISOLATED ASIAN NATION.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR 
REPORTS THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL'S ASSESSMENT WAS CONTAINED IN A
MAJOR POLICY SPEECH  FRIDAY IN WASHINGTON.
TEXT:  DEFENSE MINISTER CHUN YONG TAEK SAYS IN THE FOUR YEARS 
SINCE NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG IL CAME TO POWER, HE IS  
RULING THE COUNTRY INCREASINGLY THROUGH THE MILITARY.
MR. CHUN SAYS THE NORTH KOREAN COMMUNIST PARTY, KNOWN AS THE 
WORKER'S PARTY,  HAS LOST VIRTUALLY ALL OF ITS DECISION MAKING 
POWERS.  HE ADDS THAT KIM JONG IL IS DEVOTING 75 PER CENT OF HIS 
TIME TO MILITARY MATTERS AND THE CURRENT RIFT BETWEEN THE 
MILITARY AND OTHER POWER BASES, SUCH AS THE PARTY, WILL LIKELY 
INCREASE. 
THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL TOLD A WASHINGTON RESEARCH GROUP CALLED
THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, NORTH KOREA'S
MILITARY IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY POLITICIZED.
              ///CHUN CUT IN ENGLISH FADED UNDER///
MR. CHUN SAYS THE MILITARY HAS RECENTLY ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY 
FOR INTERNAL SECURITY FOR SUCH THINGS AS MONITORING UNIVERSITIES,
FACTORIES AND AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES.  IT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN 
OPERATING THE RAILROAD SYSTEM AND PATROLLING THE BORDER AND 
COASTAL AREAS.  AND HE SAYS NORTH KOREAN MILITARY COURTS ARE 
EXERCISING JURISDICTION OVER CIVILIAN CRIMES.
THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL SAYS HE BELIEVES NORTH KOREA WILL NOT 
BE ABLE TO AVOID AN IMPLOSION OR AN EXPLOSION IN THE MIDDLE TO 
LONG TERM.
HE SAYS DESPITE THE DANGERS IN NORTH KOREA, THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG FEELS A POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT 
IS THE RIGHT COURSE.  HE SAYS ENGAGEMENT WILL INCREASE KNOWLEDGE 
ABOUT THE INTERNAL SITUATION IN THE NORTH AND WEAKEN THE POSITION
OF NORTH KOREAN HARDLINERS.
                         ///REST OPT///
THE SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTER CALLED FOR CONTINUED 
COORDINATION BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND SEOUL TO DEAL WITH THE NORTH.
HE SAYS THE TOP PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A SOLID, 
COMBINED DEFENSE POSTURE.
DURING HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON, MR. CHUN HELD MEETINGS WITH TOP 
U-S OFFICIALS, INCLUDING DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN.  
(SIGNED) 
NEB/DWD/PT
10-Jul-98 8:42 PM EDT (0042 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.