DATE=7/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235511
TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE U-S CONGRESS SAYS NORTH KOREA
HAS NOT LET INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR INSPECTORS CHECK ON WHAT
HAPPENED TO WEAPONS GRADE FUEL IT MAY HAVE PRODUCED BEFORE 1994.
THE REPORT HAS RAISED CONCERNS AMONG SOME IN CONGRESS ABOUT NORTH
KOREA'S INTENTION TO COMPLY WITH THE 1994 AGREEMENT THAT FROZE
ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR REPLACEMENT NUCLEAR
POWER PLANTS. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS THE STATE DEPARTMENT
SAYS THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS BUILT IN TO THE 1994 AGREEMENT.
TEXT: THE REPORT, ORDERED BY SENATOR FRANK MURKOWSKI, SAYS NORTH
KOREA MAY HAVE LIMITED ACCESS BY INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY
AGENCY INVESTIGATORS IN ORDER TO HIDE DISCREPANCIES IN THE AMOUNT
OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL IT ACKNOWLEDGED PRODUCING. THE NEW YORK
TIMES NEWSPAPER SAYS SOME EXPERTS FEAR THAT NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE
ALREADY BUILT A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SAYS THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH
BOMB-GRADE PLUTONIUM THE NORTH KOREANS DIVERTED TO THEIR WEAPONS
PROGRAM, BEFORE SIGNING THE 1994 AGREEMENT THAT FROZE THE EFFORT.
HE HAS BEEN A CRITIC OF THE AGREEMENT SINCE ITS INCEPTION AND
CALLS IT "FOLLY"
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE REPORT IS
CORRECT THAT THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR THE
DISCREPANCY IN THEIR REPORTED NUCLEAR MATERIAL. BUT HE SAYS THE
AGREEMENT ITSELF HAS FROZEN THE NORTH KOREAN WEAPONS PROGRAM AND
WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
THERE IS NO SECRET THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER
LIKED THIS AGREEMENT; WHO HAVE THOUGHT SOMEHOW,
MAGICALLY, WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THAT WE COULD
HAVE GOTTEN THE NORTH KOREANS TO GO FURTHER. I THINK
THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED VIEW OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN
THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE NORTH
KOREANS AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD, IS THAT IT
WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
/// END ACT ///
MR. RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES WANTS NORTH KOREA TO GIVE THE
NUCLEAR INSPECTORS ALL THE ACCESS THEY NEED. BUT HE SAYS THERE
IS A BUILT IN SAFEGUARD IN THE 1994 AGREEMENT -- AND THAT IS THE
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS THAT ARE TO BE PROVIDED TO NORTH KOREA.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT, THE BIG BENEFIT THEY ARE
GOING TO GET -- THE LIGHT WATER REACTORS -- WILL NOT
ACCRUE IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE THAT COOPERATION,
INFORMATION, AND ACCESS. AND THAT IS OUR BUILT-IN
SAFEGUARD.
/// END ACT ///
NORTH KOREA HAS COMPLAINED FUEL OIL SUPPLIES THAT WERE TO HAVE
BEEN PROVIDED UNDER THE 1994 AGREEMENT ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND
THERE ARE THREATS FROM PYONGYANG TO RETURN TO A WEAPONS PROGRAM
UNLESS THE OIL IS SHIPPED.
MR. RUBIN SAID THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO FULFILL ITS PART OF
THE BARGAIN BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUEL OIL AND OTHER ASPECTS
OF THE AGREEMENT, AND FULLY EXPECTS THE NORTH KOREANS TO LIVE UP
TO THEIR PART OF THE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/LTD/MMK
15-Jul-98 3:40 PM EDT (1940 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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