DATE=9/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238438
TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DEMANDING ANSWERS ABOUT A
SUSPECTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANT IN NORTH KOREA, AND STILL TRYING
TO DETERMINE IF THE NATION HAS LAUNCHED A SATELLITE. HOWEVER, U-S
OFFICIALS ARE ALSO WEIGHING THE PROSPECT OF SENDING THE COUNTRY
MORE FOOD AID. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE IS SOME PROGRESS TOWARD
COOLING TENSIONS, WHICH WERE DRAMATICALLY HEIGHTENED WHEN NORTH
KOREA FIRED A MISSILE OVER JAPAN. THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT HAS
NOW AGREED TO HOLD TALKS ON MISSILES AND NUCLEAR ISSUES, AS WELL
AS A SESSION OF FOUR-PARTY TALKS ON A PERMANENT PEACE TREATY WITH
SOUTH KOREA.
BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY WORDS ALONE WILL NOT EASE CONCERNS ABOUT
WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A SECRET NUCLEAR BOMB PROGRAM IN THE NORTH.
AT A SENATE HEARING (THURSDAY), AMBASSADOR CHARLES KARTMAN SAID
THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO SEE A SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PLANT.
// KARTMAN ACT //
SINCE THERE IS NO TRUST INVOLVED HERE, NORTH KOREA CAN'T
SIMPLY ASSURE US THAT IT'S INNOCENT. SOMETHING MORE
THAN THAT WILL BE REQUIRED. NOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED
ALREADY AND HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THEM THAT WHAT WE
HAVE IN MIND IS ACCESS TO THAT SITE.
// END ACT //
UNDER AN AGREEMENT REACHED FOUR YEARS AGO, NORTH KOREA WAS
SUPPOSED TO FREEZE ANY NUCLEAR ARMS EFFORT IN RETURN FOR FUEL OIL
AND TWO MODERN REACTORS. THE ADMINISTRATION DEFENDS THIS ACCORD,
SAYING IT HAS STOPPED PYONGYANG FROM ACQUIRING A NUCLEAR ARSENAL.
MANY IN CONGRESS ARE HIGHLY SKEPTICAL OF NORTH KOREA'S INTENTIONS
AND U-S POLICY. THE SENATE VOTED LAST WEEK TO CUT OFF MONEY FOR
THE AGREEMENT UNLESS NORTH KOREA MEETS CONDITIONS. REPUBLICAN
SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS CHARGES THE NORTH KOREANS ARE THUMBING THEIR
NOSES AT THE UNITED STATES.
// THOMAS ACT //
DESPITE INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND CONVENTIONS, THE D-P-R-K
(DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF NORTH KOREA) CONTINUES TO SELL
NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO ROGUE
NATIONS SUCH AS IRAQ AND LIBYA.
// END ACT //
THE PURPOSE OF THE RECENT MISSILE FLIGHT OVER JAPAN IS STILL IN
DOUBT. SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER (HONG-SOON YOUNG) SAYS IT
WAS PROBABLY A SATELLITE LAUNCH GONE WRONG, AS NORTH KOREA
CLAIMS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAN NOT CONFIRM THIS SCENARIO.
WHILE TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE MATTERS, THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO
CONSIDERING WHETHER TO SEND MORE RELIEF TO NORTH KOREA, WHICH HAS
LONG BEEN PLAGUED BY SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES. OFFICIALS SAY UP TO
300-THOUSAND TONS OF FOOD COULD BE DELIVERED. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PT
10-Sep-98 5:01 PM EDT (2101 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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