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DATE=1/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244059
TITLE=JAPAN / COHEN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEVEN HERMAN 
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY HAS AGAIN REJECTED A SUGGESTION 
FROM NORTH  KOREA THAT THERE BE A PRICE TAG ATTACHED TO ANY 
INSPECTIONS OF  SUSPECTED NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR SITES.  STEVE 
HERMAN REPORTS FROM TOKYO, THAT THE THREAT OF PYONGYANG'S  
POTENTIAL NUCLEAR ARMS AND CONVENTIONAL MISSILE PROGRAMS ARE  
HIGH  ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM 
COHEN'S TALKS  WITH JAPANESE OFFICIALS. 
 TEXT:  BEFORE TALKS WITH JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY 
OFFICIALS,  THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY TOOK TIME TO VISIT A U-S 
AIR FORCE BASE IN  YOKOTA, JAPAN, WHERE HE TOLD SERVICEMEN ABOUT 
PYONGYANG'S DEMAND. 
MR. COHEN, IN A SPEECH, SAID THAT AN EXCHANGE OF 300 MILLION 
DOLLARS FOR  MERELY THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT UNDERGROUND SITES IN 
NORTH KOREA, WOULD BE, IN HIS WORDS, A ''PRETTY EXPENSIVE PEEK." 
THE ISSUE OF SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR SITES IN NORTH KOREA  
IS THREATENING TO DE-RAIL AN AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH PYONGYANG  
AGREED TO STOP A POTENTIAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN
RETURN FOR FOREIGN AID TO BOOST A COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR  ENERGY 
PROGRAM. 
TALKS ON IMPROVING RELATIONS  BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND  
NORTH KOREA ARE SCHEDULED TO RESUME  ON SATURDAY IN GENEVA.  
INDICATIONS THAT NORTH KOREA IS INCREASING ITS OFFENSIVE MILITARY
CAPABILITY, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF MISSILES, IS OF SPECIAL 
CONCERN TO THE JAPANESE.  EVER SINCE PYONGYANG LAUNCHED A 
THREE-STAGE BALLISTIC  MISSILE THAT FLEW OVER THE JAPANESE 
MAINLAND LAST AUGUST, DEFENSE OFFICIALS HERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING
THE DIALOGUE WITH WASHINGTON.  TOKYO IS PROPOSING TO SPEND MONEY 
FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INTO A THEATER DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT 
WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOOT DOWN MISSILES AND IS PLANNING TO LAUNCH 
ITS OWN INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING SATELLITES.  AT PRESENT, JAPAN IS 
GREATLY DEPENDENT ON U-S FORCES  AND INTELLIGENCE FOR ITS 
DEFENSE.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/FC
12-Jan-99 3:38 AM EST (0838 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.