DATE=12/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242848
TITLE=KOREA TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS CONCLUDED SIX DAYS OF
TALKS TODAY (FRIDAY) AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY MADE SOME
PROGRESS IN THEIR DISCUSSION ON AMERICAN ACCESS TO A SUSPECTED
NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR FACILITY. CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS
FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS GAPS REMAIN
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA. BUT HE ADDS THAT BOTH
SIDES APPROACHED THE ISSUES IN A PROBLEM-SOLVING MANNER. AND THEY
AGREED TO MEET AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AT ISSUE IN THE TALKS WERE U-S FEARS THAT NORTH KOREA IS USING AN
UNDERGROUND SITE NEAR ITS CAPITAL PYONGYANG TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR
WEAPONS. THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE ENERGY AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED
STATES THAT NORTH KOREA SIGNED IN 1994. UNDER THAT AGREEMENT,
NORTH KOREA SAID IT WOULD FREEZE ITS SUSPECTED NUCLEAR WEAPON
PROGRAM AND WOULD RECEIVE FREE FUEL AND SAFER NUCLEAR REACTORS.
NORTH KOREA SAYS THE FACILITY IS FOR CIVILIAN, NOT MILITARY, USE.
IT HAS DEMANDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO
EXAMINE THE SITE. THE UNITED STATES HAS REFUSED.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN FOLEY SAYS THE TALKS BETWEEN THE U-S
AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS WERE HELD IN A SERIOUS ATMOSPHERE AND
THAT THE UNITED STATES CONTINUED TO REQUIRE WHAT HE CALLS THE
COMPLETE RESOLUTION OF ITS CONCERNS REGARDING NORTH KOREA'S
SUSPECT UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION. AMERICAN OFFICIALS, SAYS MR.
FOLEY, MADE CLEAR THIS WILL REQUIRE ACCESS TO THE SITE.
THE TWO DELEGATIONS BEGAN THEIR TALKS IN NEW YORK ON DECEMBER
FOURTH. THE DISCUSSIONS MOVED TO WASHINGTON BEFORE RETURNING TO
NEW YORK FOR THE FINAL TWO DAYS. NO DATE OR PLACE HAS BEEN SET
FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
NEB/NY/LSF/JO
11-Dec-98 4:13 PM EST (2113 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
