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DATE9/1/98
TYPE CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER2-237956
TITLE=JAPAN/ NORTH KOREAN MISSILE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEVE HERMAN
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  JAPAN IS EXPRESSING STRONG CONCERN ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S 
TEST-FIRING OF A NEW TYPE OF MISSILE OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
ON MONDAY.  STEVE HERMAN REPORTS FROM TOKYO, OFFICIALS ARE 
ALARMED THAT PART OF THE TWO-STAGE MISSILE PASSED OVER JAPAN, ON 
ITS WAY TO A SPLASHDOWN IN THE SEA.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI INDICATES JAPAN RECEIVED 
WARNINGS THAT NORTH KOREA WAS PREPARING A MISSILE TEST, BUT 
ANALYSTS SAY THE GOVERNMENT WAS CLEARLY SURPRISED AND ALARMED 
WHEN THE SECOND STAGE OF THE MISSILE -- APPARENTLY A NEW, 
LONGER-RANGE WEAPON FOR NORTH KOREA -- FLEW OVER JAPAN AND LANDED
IN THE PACIFIC.  
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMEN SAY THE TEST WAS A DANGEROUS ACT, AND 
NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN.  THE PRIME MINISTER HELD AN EMERGENCY 
MEETING WITH HIS FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS AND OTHER ADVISERS
TO DISCUSS THE LAUNCH.
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS HAVE SO FAR ECHOED CONCERNS EXPRESSED AFTER 
TWO PREVIOUS NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TESTS.  BUT JAPANESE MEDIA 
REPORTS SAY THIS TIME JAPAN IS LIKELY TO GO FURTHER, PUTTING ON 
HOLD ITS COMMITMENT TO PAY FOR TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS FOR 
PYONGYANG. 
AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION, JAPAN HAD PLEDGED TO 
CONTRIBUTE ONE BILLION DOLLARS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO 
LIGHT-WATER REACTORS, INTENDED TO MEET NORTH KOREA'S ENERGY 
NEEDS.  IN RETURN, PYONGYANG PROMISED TO FREEZE ITS NUCLEAR 
PROGRAM.  SOUTH KOREA, ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR TO THE COALITION, 
ANNOUNCED TUESDAY IT IS INDEFINITELY WITHHOLDING ITS 
CONTRIBUTION, BECAUSE OF THE MISSILE TEST. 
JAPANESE DEFENSE ANALYSTS SAY THEY ARE PUZZLED BY THE TIMING OF 
NORTH KOREA'S LAUNCH OF THE APPARENTLY-NEW TWO-STAGE MISSILE.  
THEY SAY PYONGYANG WOULD KNOW FULL WELL THAT THE ACTION WOULD SET
BACK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND HARM THE CHANCES OF GETTING MORE 
DESPERATELY-NEEDED AID, INCLUDING FOOD SUPPLIES.
BUT THE ANALYSTS SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH NORTH KOREA IS ONE OF 
JAPAN'S CLOSEST NEIGHBORS, IT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT FOREIGN
NATION FOR JAPANESE SECURITY SPECIALISTS TO FIGURE OUT.   
(SIGNED)
NEB/SH/GC/FC/WTW
01-Sep-98 12:51 AM EDT (0451 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.