DATE=10/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240444
TITLE=KOREA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TOP AMERICAN OFFICIAL IN SOUTH KOREA SAYS A NUCLEAR
ACCORD WITH NORTH KOREA IS ON TRACK DESPITE MOVES IN THE U-S
CONGRESS TO BLOCK FUNDING. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT
AMBASSADOR STEPHEN BOSWORTH ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR SOUTH
KOREA'S EFFORTS TO PULL ITSELF OUT OF ITS DEEP RECESSION.
TEXT : U-S AMBASSADOR BOSWORTH SAYS THE NUCLEAR DEAL IS TOO
IMPORTANT TO FAIL, DESPITE FUNDING PROBLEMS FOR THE KOREAN
PENINSULA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, KNOWN AS KEDO, WHICH
IS OVERSEEING THE PACT.
THE DEAL , SIGNED IN 1994, IN WHICH PYONGYANG PROMISED TO SCRAP
ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN EXCHANGE FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE. BUT, THE
U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LATE LAST MONTH VOTED TO BLOCK 35
MILLION DOLLARS IN PAYMENT. SOME MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT
NORTH KOREA'S LAUNCH OF A MULTISTAGE ROCKET OVER JAPAN. THE
RELUCTANCE TO APPROVE FUNDING PROMPTED THREATS BY NORTH KOREA TO
RESUME PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS-GRADE PLUTONIUM, USED TO MAKE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
BUT THE FUNDS WERE RESTORED IN A BUDGET DEAL REACHED BETWEEN
CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON MONDAY AND AMBASSADOR
BOSWORTH SAYS THE DEAL WILL NOW GO FORWARD.
//BOSWORTH ACT 1//
IT IS ESSENTIAL THEREFORE THAT THE UNITED STATES, KOREA, JAPAN
AND OUR OTHER KEDO PARTNERS CONTINUE TO MEET OUR COMMITMENT TO
SUPPLY NORTH KOREA THE HEAVY FUEL OIL AND LIGHT WATER REACTORS
WHICH ARE THE QUID PRO QUO OF THE NUCLEAR FREEZE. I AM CONFIDENT
THESE COMMITMENTS WILL BE MET.
//END BOSWORTH ACT 1//
SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS TUESDAY, MR. BOSWORTH ALSO REAFFIRMED THE
U-S COMMITMENT DEFEND THE SOUTH FROM THREATS POSED BY NORTH
KOREA. BUT HE NOTED SOUTH KOREA FACES A NEW THREAT IN THE FORM
OF A DEEPENING ECONOMIC RECESSION.
HE APPLAUDED PAINFUL FINANCIAL REFORMS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE
SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT TO SPEED RECOVERY. U-S COMPANIES, HE
SAID, HAVE TOLD HIM THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE TERMED THE
BOLD STEPS BEING TAKEN BY THE REFORMIST ADMINISTRATION OF
PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG.
NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE POLICY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND SOUTH KOREA. HE POINTED OUT THE NEED TO RESOLVE AN
ONGOING DISPUTE OVER ACCESS TO SOUTH KOREA'S TIGHTLY SHUTTERED
AUTO MARKET.
//BOSWORTH ACT 2//
THERE ARE NOW TALKS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON ON THE AUTO TRADE
BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS OUR
CONCERN OVER A LACK OF ACCESS TO KOREA'S MARKET FOR FOREIGN
MANUFACTURED AUTOMOBILES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR MARKET, SOME 30
PER CENT OF ALL CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ARE FOREIGN-MADE.
IN KOREA LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF AUTOS SOLD HERE ARE
FOREIGN-MADE. THAT SEEMS TO US TO BE AN ASSYMETRICAL
RELATIONSHIP.
//END BOSWORTH ACT 2//
BUT HE ADDED THAT REFORMS ARE SLOWLY UNSHACKLING THE ECONOMY. HE
EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE SOUTH KOREA WILL NOT HAVE TO USE EIGHT
BILLION DOLLARS IN RESCUE LOANS DESIGNED AS A FALLBACK SHOULD THE
ECONOMY FALTER AGAIN.
NEB/JL/FC
20-Oct-98 4:34 AM EDT (0834 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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