DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241554
TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS AGAIN DEMANDED CASH COMPENSATION FROM THE
UNITED STATES, FOR THE RIGHT TO INSPECT A SUSPECTED NUCLEAR SITE.
JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL, THE DEMAND COMES AS NEW CRACKS
APPEAR IN A 1994 DEAL FREEZING NORTH KOREA S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
TEXT: THE RENEWAL OF NORTH KOREA'S DEMAND FOLLOWS WARNINGS BY
THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT THAT THE DEAL COULD BE JETTISONED.
UNDER THE FOUR POINT SIX BILLION DOLLAR AGREEMENT, THE NORTH WILL
BE PROVIDED WITH TWO MODERN NUCLEAR REACTORS, IF IT FREEZES
CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES THAT HAVE WEAPONS-MAKING
POTENTIAL.
THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED THAT NORTH KOREA IS BUILDING AN
UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY IN VIOLATION OF THE PACT.
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY A U-S SPY SATELLITE SHOW THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS TUNNELLING INTO THE GROUND, 40 KILOMETERS FROM YONGBYON,
THE SITE PYONGYANG AGREED TO MOTHBALL UNDER THE 1994 AGREEMENT.
THE NORTH SAYS THE CONSTRUCTION HAS A CIVILIAN PURPOSE, BUT U-S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES BELIEVE IT COULD BE USED TO STORE BANNED
NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT. THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO WITHDRAW
FROM THE DEAL UNLESS PYONGYANG ALLOWS AN INSPECTION TEAM TO ENTER
THE SITE. THE ISSUE WILL BE CENTRAL TO TALKS THIS WEEK IN NORTH
KOREA BETWEEN A U-S DELEGATION AND COMMUNIST OFFICIALS.
ON THURSDAY THE NORTH REPEATED ITS DEMAND, THROUGH ITS OFFICIAL
KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY, FOR CASH REPARATIONS AFTER AN
INSPECTION IT SAID WOULD PROVE THE SITE IS CIVILIAN RATHER THAN
MILITARY.
THE K-C-N-A REPORT SAID THE MONEY WOULD BE ADEQUATE COMPENSATION
FOR WASHINGTON'S ACCUSATIONS, WHICH IT DESCRIBED AS SLANDEROUS.
THE NUCLEAR DEAL HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH TENSION ARISING FROM
WASHINGTON'S SUSPICIONS THAT PYONGYANG WANTS TO RESUME ITS
SUSPECT NUCLEAR PROGRAM. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC/PLM
12-Nov-98 4:14 AM EST (0914 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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