DATE=11/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242022
TITLE=NOKOR / NUKE (S & L)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA STRONGLY DENIED TODAY (MONDAY) IT IS BUILDING
AN UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY AND ACCUSED SOUTH KOREA AND THE
UNITED STATES OF WAGING A SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PYONGYANG
GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS HAS MORE ON THE STORY
FROM THE VOA ASIA NEWS CENTER.
TEXT: NORTH KOREA SAYS ALLEGATIONS IT IS BUILDING AN UNDERGROUND
NUCLEAR FACILITY ARE UNTRUE. THE GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL NEWS
AGENCY ACCUSED SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES OF SLANDERING
THE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT BY WHAT IT CALLED THE NON-EXISTENT
SUSPICION OF A NUCLEAR FACILITY.
THE REPORT, MONITORED IN TOKYO, WAS THE FIRST DIRECT PUBLIC
RESPONSE TO U-S WARNINGS TO PYONGYANG TO ABANDON ITS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PROGRAM. THE STATE-RUN NEWS AGENCY MAINTAINS THE
ACCUSATIONS WERE LAUNCHED TO COINCIDE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
RECENT TRIP TO SOUTH KOREA AND TO MAKE IT SEEM AS THOUGH
PYONGYANG WAS INCREASING TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
PYONGYANG ALSO CRITICIZED SOUTH KOREA FOR SAYING THAT A NORTH
KOREAN SPY SHIP HAD CROSSED INTO SOUTH KOREAN WATERS LAST FRIDAY.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG-CR ///
THE NORTH KOREAN STATEMENT COMES A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON
TOLD U-S SOLDIERS' PATROLLING THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED DEMILITARIZED
ZONE BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS THAT THEY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT IN THE
FACE OF SIGNS OF DANGER FROM NORTH KOREA.
LAST WEEK, NORTH KOREA DENIED U-S REQUESTS TO INSPECT THE AREA
WHERE AMERICAN OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY
IS BEING BUILT. PYONGYANG OFFERED TO ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF THE
SITE -- IF THE UNITED STATES PAID 300 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT
OFFER WAS REJECTED. NORTH KOREA HAS INSISTED THE FACILITY, NORTH
OF ITS CAPITAL, IS FOR CIVILIAN USE.
U-S ENVOY CHARLES KARTMAN, WHO RETURNED FROM NORTH KOREA LAST
WEEK, TOLD REPORTERS THAT A 1994 DEAL TO BUILD TWO LIGHT WATER
NUCLEAR REACTORS AND PROVIDE FUEL OIL TO NORTH KOREA COULD BE IN
DANGER UNLESS PYONGYANG ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE UNDERGROUND SITE.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ASSISTANCE, PYONGYANG PLEDGED TO SUSPEND ITS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.
TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE
AUGUST WHEN NORTH KOREA TEST-FIRED A MISSILE WHICH FLEW OVER
JAPAN. PUBLISHED REPORTS ALSO SAY NORTH KOREA IS PREPARING TO
TEST LAUNCH ANOTHER MISSILE AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING AT
LEAST TWO MORE LAUNCH FACILITIES FOR ITS MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE,.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CS/FC/KL
23-Nov-98 5:37 AM EST (1037 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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