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DATE=8/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237247
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EUNICE YOON
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES PLANS TO DEMAND NORTH KOREA STOP ALL 
WORK AT AN UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DETECTED BY U-S 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.  AS EUNICE YOON REPORTS FROM SEOUL, U-S 
OFFICIALS WILL BRING UP THE ISSUE OF THE SUSPECTED NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS FACILITY DURING BILATERAL TALKS THIS WEEK IN  NEW YORK.
TEXT:  A U-S ENVOY FOR KOREAN NUCLEAR AFFAIRS WILL MEET WITH 
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS FRIDAY AND DEMAND PYONGYANG STOP ALL WORK 
AT A LARGE UNDERGROUND COMPLEX.
U-S SECURITY OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE CENTER MAY BE PART OF AN 
EFFORT TO REVIVE THE COUNTRY'S FROZEN NUCLEAR PROGRAM.  THEY SAY 
IT MAY CONCEAL MISSILE OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT WHICH  
WOULD BREAK A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AGREEMENT BETWEEN PYONGYANG AND 
WASHINGTON.
UNDER THE PACT, NORTH KOREA PLEDGED TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS PROGRAM IN EXCHANGE FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID.  BUT 
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT LIVED UP TO 
ITS END OF THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO APPROVE 
LARGE AMOUNTS OF  FUEL SHIPMENTS TO PYONGYANG.
THE SHIPMENTS ARE THE UNITED STATES' MAIN CONTRIBUTION TO A 
SIX-BILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM UNDER WHICH SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, AND 
OTHER NATIONS ARE TO FINANCE AN ELECTRIC ENERGY PROJECT AND PUT 
AN END TO NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR ARMS PLANS.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" QUOTES A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL AS 
SAYING THE NORTH HAS NOT TECHNICALLY VIOLATED THE ACCORD SINCE 
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE PYONGYANG HAS STARTED TO POUR CEMENT FOR A 
PLANT THAT WOULD CONVERT NUCLEAR WASTE INTO WEAPONS-GRADE 
PLUTONIUM.
U-S SPY SATELLITES HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED A LARGE WORKSITE NORTHEAST 
OF YONGBYON, THE AREA WHERE THE NORTH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CREATED
ENOUGH PLUTONIUM TO BUILD AT LEAST SIX BOMBS.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THOUSANDS OF NORTH KOREAN WORKERS ARE AT THE 
SITE, DIGGING ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE.
NORTH KOREA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO REPORTS THE UNDERGROUND PROJECT 
HAS BEEN DETECTED.   (SIGNED)
NEB/EY/GC/RAE
18-Aug-98 7:56 AM EDT (1156 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.