DATE=10/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240579
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / PEACE TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TALKS DESIGNED TO SECURE A PERMANENT PEACE TREATY ON THE
KOREAN PENINSULA WERE OVERSHADOWED THURSDAY BY NORTH KOREAN ANGER
AT PLANNED U-S MILITARY EXERCISES WITH SOUTH KOREA. JOHN LARKIN
REPORTS FROM SEOUL THE JOINT EXERCISES BEGIN THE DAY AFTER THE
CURRENT ROUND OF GENEVA TALKS END.
TEXT: THOUGH DELEGATES FROM BOTH KOREAS, THE U-S AND CHINA MADE
LITTLE COMMENT ON THE EXERCISES, THE NORTH'S OFFICIAL KOREAN
CENTRAL NEWSAGENCY -- K-C-N-A -- TERMED THEIR TIMING "SERIOUSLY
PROVOKING."
THE K-C-N-A SAID THE MANEUVERS SHOWED THE U-S AND SOUTH KOREA HAD
NO INTEREST IN SECURING A PEACE TREATY BETWEEN THE RIVAL
NEIGHBORS.
THE TWO KOREAS ARE STILL TECHNICALLY AT WAR AS THE KOREAN WAR
ENDED IN 1953 WITH THE SIGNING OF AN ARMISTICE WHICH HAS PROVEN
SHAKY AT BEST OVER THE ENSUING DECADES.
THE U-S AND SOUTH KOREA HAVE HELD MILITARY EXERCISES SINCE 1961.
OFFICIALS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES DESCRIBED THE MANEUVERS AS
DEFENSIVE IN NATURE.
U-S OFFICIALS SAID THE EXERCISES WOULD POSE NO THREAT TO NORTH
KOREA AS THEY WOULD BE CONDUCTED WELL SOUTH OF ITS HEAVILY
FORTIFIED BORDER WITH SOUTH KOREA.
SOUTH KOREA'S SEMI-OFFICIAL YONHAP NEWSAGENCY REPORTED THURSDAY
THE GENEVA TALKS, WHICH BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY, WERE BOGGED DOWN IN
DISPUTES OVER PROCEDURAL MATTERS.
THE FOUR-PARTY TALKS INCLUDE THE U-S AND CHINA AS WELL AS THE TWO
KOREAS. OFFICIALS SAID THURSDAY NORTH KOREA WAS STICKING TO ITS
USUAL DEMAND THAT THE U-S WITHDRAW ITS 37,000 TROOPS FROM SOUTH
KOREA.
THE U-S HAS ALWAYS REJECTED THIS STIPULATION. THE FIRST TWO
ROUNDS OF THE GENEVA TALKS, HELD LAST DECEMBER AND MARCH, STALLED
ON PROCEDURAL DIFFERENCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/KL
22-Oct-98 9:36 AM EDT (1336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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