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25 February 1999

NORTH KOREA REMAINS GREATEST THREAT IN ASIA, ALBRIGHT SAYS

(DPRK may have violated agreement on nuclear program)  (660)
By Jane A. Morse
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- North Korea presents the greatest military threat in
Asia and may be violating its agreement with the United States to
suspend its nuclear weapons programs, says Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright.
In testimony to the House International Relations Committee February
25, Albright said that in the Asia-Pacific region "there is no greater
threat to peace and stability than the situation on the Korean
peninsula."
The Secretary said the United States has completed three rounds of
talks with representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) to resolve U.S. concerns about construction at an
underground site at Kumchangni. Another round of talks is scheduled in
New York on February 27th.
"Our bottom line in these talks was and is clear that we have
suspicions that North Korea was engaged in construction activities
that could constitute a violation of its commitment to freeze its
nuclear-related facilities under the Agreed Framework," the Secretary
said.
Under the agreement, North Korea agreed to dismantle its gas graphite
nuclear reactor program, which produced weapons-grade material. North
Korea also agreed to engage in dialogue with South Korea, remain in
the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to abide by obligations set by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Secretary noted that the IAEA "plays a very important role in the
monitoring of what goes on as far as the nonproliferation regimes are
concerned. And we do consider it an agency of major importance to us
as far as our nonproliferation priorities are concerned."
In exchange for North Korea's cooperation on suspending its nuclear
program, the United States spearheaded the establishment of the Korean
Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), an international
consortium led by the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and
the European Union. KEDO will finance the construction in North Korea
of two light-water reactors of South Korean design. This type of
reactor produces significantly fewer byproducts that can be used for
nuclear weapons.
The United States also agreed to provide 500,000 metric tons of heavy
fuel oil per year to help North Korea meet its energy needs until the
new, safer nuclear reactors can be completed.
Albright emphasized to the committee that the United States has been
actively engaged in talks regarding its concerns not only with North
Korea, but with South Korea, Japan, and China.
"With our Korean and Japanese allies and China we are discussing with
North Korea the prospects for achieving a permanent end to tensions,"
the Secretary said. "We are also engaged in direct talks with North
Korea on ways to resolve concerns regarding its suspicious underground
construction activities and long-range missile program. These concerns
must be addressed if North Korea is to improve relations with us and
others in the region. In addition, the Agreed Framework must be
implemented in good faith and by all sides."
She added that former Secretary of Defense William Perry is conducting
a review of US policy towards North Korea. Perry is schedule to
discuss this issue with President Clinton in San Francisco on February
26.
Albright noted that U.S. food aid to North Korea -- which has been
provided strictly based on humanitarian reasons -- is delivered to
that country solely through the World Food Program.
Last spring, the United States announced it would provide 200,000
metric tons of food assistance to North Korea. Recently the United
States pledged an additional 300,000 metric tons.
As for charges that the food aid has been diverted by North Korean
officials from the starving citizens it was intended to help, Albright
told the committee that "we have seen no evidence of significant
diversions.... (We) are confident that our food is reaching the right
people."
The World Food Program oversees the distribution of food aid in North
Korea with more than 50 international monitors, the Secretary noted.