DATE=9/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238073
TITLE=SENATE - NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS SIGNALED ITS DISPLEASURE AT NORTH KOREA
FOR TEST-FIRING A MISSILE OVER JAPAN AND ALLEGEDLY CONDUCTING A
SECRET NUCLEAR ARMS PROGRAM. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS,
LAWMAKERS OVERWHELMINGLY CALLED FOR RESTRICTIONS ON NORTH KOREA'S
NUCLEAR ACCORD WITH THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS.
TEXT: SENATORS VOTED TO HOLD BACK MONEY TO CARRY OUT THE ACCORD
AS LONG AS NORTH KOREA DEVELOPS NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR SELLS ITS
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO TERRORIST COUNTRIES. REPUBLICAN JOHN
MCCAIN SAYS THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS HAVE RENDERED THE
FOUR-YEAR-OLD AGREEMENT ALL BUT WORTHLESS.
// MCCAIN ACT //
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST THE WORD OF THESE PEOPLE? AND
THEY JUST LAUNCHED A MISSILE, A TWO-STAGE MISSILE WHICH
EVERY ARMS CONTROL EXPERT IN AMERICA WILL TELL YOU THAT
YOU DON'T BUILD THESE KINDS OF MISSILES UNLESS THEY'RE
ARMED WITH WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? THIS THING (THE
AGREEMENT) WAS WRONG FROM THE START.
// END ACT //
THE DEAL WOULD GIVE NORTH KOREA MODERN REACTORS AND FUEL OIL IN
RETURN FOR CLOSING AN OLD REACTOR THAT COULD YIELD PLUTONIUM FOR
BOMBS. NORTH KOREA'S INTENTIONS WERE RECENTLY CALLED INTO
QUESTION BY REPORTS THE COUNTRY HAS BUILT A HUGE UNDERGROUND
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANT. EVEN BEFORE THESE REPORTS AND THE MISSILE
TEST, MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAD GROWN SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE
AGREEMENT. BUT DEMOCRAT PATRICK LEAHY, WHILE DENOUNCING NORTH
KOREA'S CONDUCT, URGED HIS COLLEAGUES NOT TO BACK AWAY FROM THE
PLAN.
// LEAHY ACT //
AND I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE THE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT AN
EXCUSE TO MAKE THE SITUATION WE NOW HAVE A LOT WORSE.
// END ACT //
THE SENATE PASSED THE RESTRICTIONS AS PART OF A FOREIGN AID BILL
FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS YET
TO ACT ON THE PROPOSAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WFR
02-Sep-98 5:16 PM EDT (2116 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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