DATE=11/20/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41930
TITLE=NORTH KOREA WEAPONS
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA ARE AT A
CRITICAL STAGE BECAUSE OF PYONGYANG'S MISSILE PROGRAM. CONCERNS
ABOUT MISSILE AND OTHER WEAPON PROGRAMS ARE THE FOCUS OF
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S MEETINGS IN SOUTH KOREA. AT A STOP IN JAPAN
THIS WEEK, MR. CLINTON STRESSED THE NEED FOR CONTINUED
COOPERATION AMONG THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA
TO STOP PYONGYANG'S SUSPECTED NUCLEAR PROGRAM. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE HAS THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: NEWS REPORTS SAY NORTH KOREA IS BUILDING NEW FACILITIES TO
LAUNCH MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES, AND HAS BOOSTED EFFORTS TO BUILD
SHORT RANGE WEAPONS. THE PUBLISHED ACCOUNT (IN THE WASHINGTON
POST) CITES UNNAMED U-S INTELLIGENCE SOURCES, THAT ALSO SAY NORTH
KOREA PLANS TO TEST-FIRE ANOTHER MISSILE CAPABLE OF HITTING
JAPAN.
PYONGYANG RECENTLY ALARMED ITS NEIGHBORS BY LAUNCHING A THREE
STAGE ROCKET THAT FLEW ACROSS JAPAN AND MUCH OF THE PACIFIC.
(IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY) U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
HAS WARNED NORTH KOREA IT MUST STOP DEVELOPING AND PEDDLING ITS
MISSILES, OR RISK SERIOUSLY WORSENING RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
WE HAVE INSISTED THAT THE DPRK (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF KOREA) CEASE ITS LONG RANGE MISSILE
DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND EXPORT PROGRAM AND WE ARE AT
A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN OUR RELATIONS WITH PYONGYANG.
/// END ACT ///
MEANTIME, AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SAY A LARGE UNDERGROUND
COMPLEX, UNDER CONSTRUCTION INSIDE A MOUNTAIN IN NORTH KOREA, MAY
BE INTENDED TO HIDE A RESURRECTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.
NORTH KOREA INSISTS THE PROJECT HAS ONLY NON-MILITARY PURPOSES.
EARLIER THIS WEEK A HIGH-LEVEL U-S DELEGATION WENT TO NORTH KOREA
IN PART TO PERSUADE PYONGYANG TO ALLOW U-S INSPECTIONS OF THE
FACILITY.
BUT PYONGYANG DEMANDED A 300-MILLION DOLLAR PAYMENT TO MAKE THE
INSPECTION -- AN IDEA U-S OFFICIALS CALL RIDICULOUS.
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS A MAJOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN
WASHINGTON AND NORTH KOREA MAY BE AT RISK UNLESS U-S OFFICIALS
GET A FIRST HAND LOOK AT THE PROJECT.
/// COHEN ACT ///
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN GO ON INDEFINITELY. THIS
IS A SUBJECT MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
/// END ACT///
IF NORTH KOREA IS BUILDING A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY, IT WOULD
VIOLATE A 1994 DEAL UNDER WHICH PYONGYANG SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR
REACTORS SUSPECTED OF PRODUCING NUCLEAR WEAPONS MATERIALS -- IN
EXCHANGE FOR HELP CONSTRUCTING PEACEFUL ENERGY SOURCES.
// OPT // THE DEAL IS ADMINISTERED BY AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION WITH MANY MEMBERS, INCLUDING SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN AND
THE UNITED STATES. SEOUL AND TOKYO FUNDED AND STARTED
CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT NUCLEAR REACTORS DESIGNED PRODUCE
ELECTRICITY -- NOT BOMBS IN NORTH KOREA. WASHINGTON PROMISED TO
HELP DELIVER THOUSANDS OF TONS OF FUEL OIL TO MEET NORTH KOREAN
ENERGY NEEDS WHILE THE NEW REACTORS ARE BEING BUILT. // END OPT
//
IN WASHINGTON, HUDSON POLICY INSTITUTE SCHOLAR ROBERT DUJARRICK
SAYS WASHINGTON SHOULD STOP GIVING NORTH KOREA AID IN EXCHANGE
FOR FREEZING ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.
/// DUJARRICK ACT ///
THE PROBLEM IS THAT SO FAR, THE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT HAS
BEEN TO GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO NORTH KOREA, AND THEREFORE
TO MAKE IT STRONGER AND ALLOW IT TO DEVELOP A STRONGER
WEAPONS PROGRAM.
/// END ACT ///
MR. DUJARRICK SAYS U-S ENERGY AID AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN
AID FREES NORTH KOREAN RESOURCES FOR ITS WEAPONS PROGRAMS. AND HE
SAYS IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT NORTH KOREA IS CONTINUING ITS
WEAPONS PROGRAMS BECAUSE, AS HE PUTS IT, THEY AREN'T HOLLOWING
OUT A MOUNTAIN TO HIDE A TEXTILE PLANT.
MR. DUJARRICK SAYS IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL
TAKE EFFECTIVE MILITARY ACTION TO FORCE NORTH KOREA TO GIVE UP
ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROGRAMS. BUT HE SAYS WORKING HARDER TO
DEVELOP BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSES WOULD HELP PROTECT U-S
INTERESTS AND NORTH KOREA'S NEIGHBORS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/JO
20-Nov-98 4:19 PM EST (2119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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