DATE=2/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245244
TITLE=KOREA / TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS WELCOMED SEOUL'S CAUTIOUSLY-POSITIVE
RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S PROPOSAL FOR OFFICIAL TALKS. BUT, AS
JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL, SOUTH KOREAN OBSERVERS SAY THE
NORTH'S OVERTURE MAY HAVE MORE TO DO WITH ITS NEED FOR FOOD, THAN
A DESIRE FOR A PEACE AGREEMENT.
TEXT: PYONGYANG ON MONDAY CALLED FOR A NEW ERA IN RELATIONS WITH
SOUTH KOREA. THE NORTH SAYS THE NEW RELATIONSHIP COULD EVOLVE
FROM PROPOSED TALKS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE DILEMMA OF HOW TO
REUNITE THE DIVIDED KOREAN PENINSULA. THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN ON
A CONTINUAL WAR FOOTING, SINCE THE KOREAN WAR HALTED WITH AN
ARMISTICE IN 1953.
BUT THE CALL, CARRIED BY THE OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY,
PUT THE BALL SQUARELY BACK IN SEOUL'S COURT, BY INSISTING SOUTH
KOREA ACCEPT DEMANDS PYONGYANG HAS ATTACHED TO LAST WEEK'S OFFER
OF NEW TALKS.
CHIEF AMONG THEM ARE THAT SEOUL SCRAP MILITARY EXERCISES WITH THE
UNITED STATES, ABOLISH A LAW AGAINST PRO-COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES,
AND ALLOW A VOICE TO PRO-PYONGYANG GROUPS IN THE SOUTH, SUCH AS
THE RADICAL HANCHONGRYON STUDENT GROUP. THE CONDITIONS ARE
STANDARD NORTH KOREAN DEMANDS, WHICH SEOUL HAS REJECTED IN THE
PAST.
PROFESSOR LEE JONG-HOON, A POLITICAL SCIENTIST AT YONSEI
UNIVERSITY IN SEOUL, BELIEVES THE TALKS OFFER IS SIGNIFICANT, AS
IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE A WHILE THAT PYONGYANG HAS ASKED
FOR DIRECT POLITICAL DIALOGUE.
BUT HE SPECULATES THE MOVE COULD BE PART OF A PLAN TO APPEASE THE
UNITED STATES. HE NOTES WASHINGTON IS REPORTEDLY ABOUT TO OFFER
NORTH KOREA FOOD AID AND AN EASING OF SANCTIONS, IN RETURN FOR
ACCESS TO AN UNDERGROUND SITE IT SUSPECTS IS A NUCLEAR PLANT IN
THE MAKING.
// ACT 1 - PROF LEE JONG-HOON //
"I THINK IT MIGHT BE A PART OF A WAY OF NORTH KOREA USING SOUTH
KOREA AS SORT OF A CARD IN DEALING WITH THE UNITED STATES,
ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FOOD
AID -- MAYBE TO SHOW THEIR FLEXIBILITY, THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO
COOPERATE WITH SOUTH KOREA. I THINK IT'S REALLY PART OF THEIR
LARGER PICTURE IN DEALING WITH THE UNITED STATES THAT THEY COME
UP WITH THIS PROPOSAL."
// END ACT 1 //
BUT PROFESSOR LEE BELIEVES PYONGYANG MAY HAVE MADE THE OFFER TO
APPEAR MORE FLEXIBLE, WHILE KNOWING SOUTH KOREA COULD NEVER
ACCEPT THE ATTACHED CONDITIONS.
// PROF LEE JONG-HOON //
"I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE POSSIBLE UNTIL NORTH KOREA SOMEHOW
BACKS DOWN ON THESE CONDITIONS. I MEAN HOW IS SOUTH KOREA
POSSIBLY GOING TO PERMIT TO ACTIVITIES OF HANCHONGRYON, OR GET
RID OF THE SECURITY LAW. THE MILITARY EXERCISES, YES THAT'S
POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE GIVING IN TOO MUCH THE NORTH
KOREAN DEMANDS."
// END ACT //
MONDAY'S COMMENT FROM PYONGYANG COINCIDED WITH THE VISIT TO
SEOUL BY CHARLES KARTMAN, WASHINGTON'S TOP NEGOTIATOR ON NORTH
KOREA. HE GAVE A PROGRESS REPORT TO SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS ON
TALKS WITH ABOUT THE NORTH'S SUSPECT NUCLEAR SITE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC
08-Feb-99 4:52 AM EST (0952 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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