DATE=1/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244296
TITLE=NORTH KOREA TALKS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREAN NEGOTIATORS HAVE MET AGAIN
IN GENEVA, TRYING TO SETTLE A DISPUTE OVER AN UNDERGROUND SITE IN
NORTH KOREA THAT WASHINGTON SUSPECTS IS BEING USED TO DEVELOP
NUCLEAR WEAPONS. SUNDAY'S TALKS PRODUCED NO BREAK-THROUGH, BUT
THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF THE WEEK
(SATURDAY 1/23). LISA SCHLEIN SAYS THE U-S AND NORTH KOREAN
NEGOTIATORS APPEAR TO BE FAR FROM AN AGREEMENT.
TEXT: U-S NEGOTIATORS WENT INTO THE GENEVA TALKS WITH LOW
EXPECTATIONS. SO FAR NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO CHANGE THIS VIEW.
BOTH THE U-S AND NORTH KOREAN DELEGATIONS ARE MAINTAINING A
TIGHT-LIPPED SILENCE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BEFORE THEY BEGAN SUNDAY'S MEETING AT THE U-S MISSION IN GENEVA,
THE HEAD OF THE NORTH KOREAN DELEGATION [DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
KIM GYE-GWAN] TOLD JOURNALISTS THE TWO SIDES WERE STUCK. HE
ADDED, HE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OVERCOME
THEIR DIFFERENCES.
HIS AMERICAN COUNTERPART [CHARLES KARTMAN] DECLINED TO COMMENT ON
THE STATE OF THESE SENSITIVE NEGOTIATIONS. HE TERSELY TOLD
REPORTERS HE WOULD DO HIS BEST.
THE UNITED STATES SUSPECTS NORTH KOREA IS REVIVING ITS NUCLEAR
ARMS PROGRAM, IN VIOLATION OF A 1994 BI-LATERAL AGREEMENT. THE
AMERICANS HAVE ASKED TO INSPECT AN UNDERGROUND SITE AT
KUMCHANG-RI, NEAR A MOTHBALLED NUCLEAR REACTOR AT YONGBYON.
NORTH KOREA HAS TOLD WASHINGTON IT CAN TAKE A ONE-TIME-ONLY LOOK
AT THE UNDERGROUND HOLE FOR A 300-MILLION-DOLLAR ENTRY FEE.
THE UNITED STATES HAS REJECTED THIS DEMAND, AND WARNED NORTH
KOREA IT IS IN DANGER OF INVALIDATING THE 1994 AGREEMENT. NORTH
KOREA STANDS TO LOSE HUGE FINANCIAL BENEFITS IF THIS HAPPENS. AS
PART OF THE ACCORD, IF NORTH KOREA CLOSES DOWN ITS SOVIET-ERA
NUCLEAR PROGRAM, THE U-S PROMISED TO PROVIDE IT WITH FIVE-BILLION
DOLLARS' WORTH OF FREE FUEL AND SAFER NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY.
THE U-S CONGRESS IS MEETING ON MAY FIRST TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENT.
SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THE NORTH KOREANS CONGRESS IS
LIKELY TO CUT OFF FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT UNLESS WASHINGTON GAINS
ACCESS TO THE SUSPECTED NUCLEAR SITE.
SUNDAY'S BI-LATERAL MEETING PRECEDED FOUR-PARTY PEACE TALKS THIS
WEEK BY NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.
ANALYSTS POINT OUT THAT IF THE BI-LATERAL TALKS FAIL, IT IS BOUND
TO AFFECT PROGRESS IN FOUR-PARTY EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT
PEACE TREATY IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/DW/WTW
17-Jan-99 1:41 PM EST (1841 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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