DATE=1/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244344
TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS CRITICIZED (TUESDAY) U-S DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN'S VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN LAST
WEEK, DESCRIBING IT AS "RECKLESS." THE CRITICISM COMES AS TALKS
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA GET UNDERWAY IN GENEVA.
THE UNITED STATES IS HOPING TO NEGOTIATE ACCESS TO NORTH KOREA'S
SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY. JOCELYN FORD HAS MORE
FROM TOKYO.
TEXT: A KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY REPORT MONITORED IN TOKYO
SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN'S TRIP TO JAPAN AND SOUTH
KOREA WAS AIMED AT ISOLATING PYONGYANG AND STIFLING NORTH KOREA
MILITARILY.
THE DISPATCH, BY NORTH KOREA'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY, WARNS WHAT
IT CALLS "U-S HAWKS" AGAINST KINDLING A NUCLEAR WAR ON THE KOREAN
PENINSULA.
IN CONTRAST TO THE SHARP TONE FROM PYONGYANG, JAPAN'S FOREIGN
MINISTER EXTENDED AN OLIVE BRANCH TO NORTH KOREA ON TUESDAY. IN A
SPEECH AT THE OPENING SESSION OF PARLIAMENT, FOREIGN MINISTER
MASAHIKO KOMURA SAID JAPAN WANTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH NORTH
KOREA BY REOPENING A DIALOGUE.
//KOMURA ACT (JAPANESE)//
MR. KOMURA ADDED A CONDITION: NORTH KOREA SHOULD DEMONSTRATE WHAT
HE TERMED A CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE ON A HOST OF MILITARY ISSUES,
INCLUDING INSPECTIONS OF ITS SUSPECTED NUCLEAR FACILITIES.
JAPAN AND NORTH KOREA DO NOT HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND
TOKYO CUT OFF CONTACT AFTER NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED A MISSILE OVER
JAPAN LAST AUGUST.
TERUO KOMAKI, IS AN EXPERT ON NORTH KOREA AT THE INSTITUTE OF
DEVELOPING ECONOMIES IN TOKYO.
// OPT //
HE SAYS FOREIGN MINISTER KOMURA'S OVERTURE IS AN ATTEMPT TO
INFLUENCE JAPANESE PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF PARTICIPATION IN
THE 1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK. UNDER THAT ACCORD, PYONGYANG AGREED
TO FREEZE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO MODERN NUCLEAR
REACTORS AND FUEL OIL DELIVERIES.
//KOMAKI ACT (JAPANESE)//
MR. KOMAKI SAYS JAPAN IS UNDER PRESSURE TO RESUME PAYMENTS FOR
ITS SHARE OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, WHICH ARE JOINTLY PLANNED
WITH THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA. JAPAN SUSPENDED ITS
CONTRIBUTIONS, EXPECTED TO TOTAL ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS, AFTER
THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH LAST AUGUST.
// END OPT //
MR. KOMAKI SAYS HE IS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PROGRESS AT THE LATEST
ROUND OF FOUR-WAY TALKS IN GENEVA, WHERE WASHINGTON IS TRYING TO
GET ACCESS TO NORTH KOREA'S SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR
FACILITY.
HE SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS MANY UNDERGROUND MILITARY FACILITIES AND
IT FEARS IF IT ALLOWS INSPECTION OF ONE IT WILL OPEN UP FURTHER
U-S DEMANDS. // OPT // HE ADDS THE U-S ATTACK ON IRAQI MILITARY
TARGETS HAS MADE NORTH KOREA EVEN MORE RELUCTANT TO ALLOW
UNCONDITIONAL INSPECTIONS. // END OPT // (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/FC/JO
19-Jan-99 4:10 AM EST (0910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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