DATE=11/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241870
TITLE=N. KOREA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S ENVOY, IN SEOUL AFTER TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN NORTH
KOREA, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS FAILED IN AN ATTEMPT TO
CONVINCE PYONGYANG TO ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND
NUCLEAR SITES. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT THE
STALE-MATE POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO A 1994 DEAL FREEZING THE
COMMUNIST NORTH'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
TEXT - WASHINGTON'S POINT-MAN ON NORTH KOREA, CHARLES KARTMAN,
WARNED THURSDAY THAT HIS TALKS IN PYONGYANG FAILED TO NARROW THE
GAP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE INSPECTIONS ISSUE.
HE SAID THE 1994 DEAL, UNDER WHICH THE NORTH GETS TWO SAFE
NUCLEAR REACTORS AND OIL DELIVERIES, IN RETURN FOR FREEZING WORK
ON FACILITIES CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WEAPONS-GRADE PLUTONIUM, WAS
IN DANGER OF UNRAVELING.
THE U-S SUSPECTS THE NORTH IS VIOLATING THE AGREEMENT BY BUILDING
A NEW UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY NEAR YONGBYON, WHERE AN OLDER
REACTOR WAS SHUT DOWN, AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS SEALED.
BUT PYONGYANG INSISTS THE FACILITY HAS A CIVILIAN PURPOSE AND IS
DEMANDING CASH FROM WASHINGTON IN EXCHANGE FOR PERMISSION TO
INSPECT THE SITE.
MR KARTMAN, WHO IS WASHINGTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA,
ISSUED HIS STERN WARNING DURING A BRIEFING AFTER HIS RETURN FROM
12-HOUR TALKS IN PYONGYANG, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS "INTENSIVE."
HIS WAS THE HIGHEST-LEVEL U-S DELEGATION TO VISIT PYONGYANG SINCE
1994, BUT WASHINGTON DID NOT EXPECT ANY MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THAT MR.KARTMAN'S
PURPOSE WAS TO PERSUADE THE NORTH THAT WASHINGTON TOOK THE ISSUE
VERY SERIOUSLY.
MR. RUBIN SAID THE KARTMAN DELEGATION HAD REJECTED PYONGYANG'S
DEMAND FOR CASH COMPENSATION, BUT THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO MEET
AGAIN. HE REFUSED TO SAY HOW MUCH MONEY THE NORTH HAD DEMANDED
IN EXCHANGE FOR INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC/PLM
19-Nov-98 3:11 AM EST (0811 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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