DATE=8/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237917
TITLE=NORTH KOREA-MISSILE (L-O)
BYLINE=EUNICE YOON
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA FIRED A MISSILE (MONDAY) INTO THE WATERS THAT
SEPARATE THE KOREAN PENINSULA FROM JAPAN. AS EUNICE YOON REPORTS
FROM SEOUL, THE LAUNCH HAS TRIGGERED CONCERNS IN JAPAN, RUSSIA,
SOUTH KOREA, AND THE UNITED STATES.
TEXT: THE MISSILE LANDED IN THE SEA, HALFWAY BETWEEN NORTH KOREA
AND NORTHWESTERN JAPAN.
OFFICIALS SAY THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE MAY HAVE BEEN A
"DAEPODONG", A NEW TYPE OF ROCKET BEING DEVELOPED BY PYONGYANG.
THEY SAY NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE BEEN TESTING THE NEW WEAPON.
THE RUSSIAN MILITARY HAS DISPATCHED WARSHIPS TO THE AREA, WHICH
IS IN RUSSIAN TERRITORY. MOSCOW OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY BELIEVE THE
ROCKET VEERED OFF COURSE. RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES HAVE QUOTED
OFFICIALS WHO CALLED THE MISSILE -- FAULTY -- BUT THE OFFICIALS
DID NOT MENTION WHAT THEY BELIEVE COULD HAVE BEEN THE TARGET.
SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED THERE WAS A
LAUNCH, BUT HAVE DECLINED TO COMMENT FURTHER. JAPANESE OFFICIALS
HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE LAUNCH AND ARE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE U-S MILITARY, WHICH HAS CALLED IT A SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT
AND PLANS TO EVALUATE THE MATTER CLOSELY.
VERY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE CAPABILITIES.
THE COMMUNIST STATE'S LAST KNOWN MISSILE TEST WAS FIVE-YEARS AGO.
THAT MISSILE ALSO LANDED IN THE WATERS BETWEEN THE KOREAN
PENINSULA AND JAPAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
31-Aug-98 8:53 AM EDT (1253 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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