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DATE=9/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238519
TITLE=U-S / KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPT.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS EMPHASIZED 
THAT NORTH KOREA WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ASSURANCES ABOUT 
ITS WEAPONS PROGRAM GIVEN IN RECENT NEW YORK MEETINGS WITH U-S 
OFFICIALS.  HER COMMENTS CAME AS SHE BEGAN TALKS WITH VISITING 
SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER HONG SOON YOUNG.  V-O-A'S GIL 
BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT:  ON THURSDAY, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF 
SEVEN MEETINGS HELD WITH THE NORTH KOREANS IN NEW YORK.  PROGRESS
WAS REPORTED ON U-S CONCERN OVER (THE DETECTION OF AN) 
UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION (FACILITY) BY NORTH KOREA -- WHICH MANY 
FEAR MIGHT BE A PRELUDE TO (NORTH KOREA) RESUMING WORK ON A 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.  AND NORTH KOREA AGREED TO RESUME TALKS 
ON ITS DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT OF BALLISTIC MISSILES.  A RECENT 
NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TEST CAUSED GREAT CONCERN IN WASHINGTON, 
SEOUL AND TOKYO.
PRIOR TO BEGINING TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER HONG, 
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID THE TEST OF NORTH KOREAN INTENTIONS WILL 
BE WHETHER IT KEEPS THE COMMITMENTS IT HAS MADE.
                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
         YESTERDAY WE ANNOUNCED NORTH KOREA'S AGREEMENT TO A 
         SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE HOPE WILL
         PUT THE AGREED FRAMEWORK BACK ON TRACK AND RESPOND TO 
         OUR OTHER CONCERNS ,WHICH INCLUDE SUSPICIOUS UNDERGROUND
         CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH AS WELL AS ITS 
         MISSILE PROGRAM.  THIS AGREEMENT IS A POSITIVE 
         DEVELOPMENT.  BUT THE TEST WILL BE WHETHER THE NORTH IS 
         TRULY WILLING TO MAKE AND KEEP COMMITMENTS IN WAYS WE 
         CAN VERIFY THAT WILL ENSURE STABILITY ON THE KOREAN 
         PENINSULA AND MAKE PERMANENT PEACE POSSIBLE.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL PRESS PYONGYANG 
FOR ACCESS TO THE UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO 
TELL THE NORTH KOREANS THAT MISSILE LAUNCHES SUCH AS THE RECENT 
ONE OVER JAPAN SHOULD NOT BE REPEATED.
THE 1994 AGREEMENT -- UNDER WHICH NORTH KOREA WAS TO END ITS 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR BEING SUPPLIED FUEL OIL AND
SAFE NUCLEAR REACTORS -- IS FACING INTENSIFIED CONGRESSIONAL 
OPPOSITION DUE TO THE RECENT NORTH KOREAN ACTIONS.  BUT STATE 
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS APPEAR CONFIDENT THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO 
SUPPLY THE AGREED AMOUNT OF FUEL OIL CAN BE FOUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RRM
11-Sep-98 6:04 PM EDT (2204 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.