DATE=3/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246353
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WILLIAM PERRY, WASHINGTON'S POLICY COORDINATOR ON NORTH
KOREA IS IN SEOUL ON MONDAY, AMID RENEWED CONCERN IN SOUTH
KOREA, ABOUT A POLICY RIFT BETWEEN THE TWO CAPITALS. JOHN
LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT MR. PERRY WILL MEET POLICYMAKERS
IN AN EFFORT TO FORGE A COMMON POLICY ON NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR
MENACE.
TEXT: WILLIAM PERRY'S VISIT COMES IN ADVANCE OF THE REPORT HE
WILL MAKE TO THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON FUTURE U-S POLICY ON
NORTH KOREA. OFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA HERE IN SOUTH KOREA ARE
EXPRESSING CONCERN MR. PERRY'S REPORT WILL RECOMMEND AN APPROACH
AT ODDS WITH SEOUL'S STRATEGY OF ENGAGING THE NORTH.
A SEOUL NEWSPAPER MONDAY REPORTED THAT STEPHEN BOSWORTH, THE U-S
AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA, HAS EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT THE WISDOM
OF SEOUL'S ENGAGEMENT POLICY WITH NORTH KOREA. THE REPORT WAS
FLATLY DENIED BY AN EMBASSY SPOKESMAN, BUT IS IN LINE WITH FEARS
IN SOUTH KOREA THAT MR. PERRY MAY CHOOSE TO RECOMMEND A TOUGHER
LINE THAN THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG WOULD LIKE.
MR PERRY WILL MEET PRESIDENT KIM AND FOREIGN MINISTER
HONG-SOON-YOUNG BEFORE LEAVING TUESDAY.
HE IS NOT EXPECTED TO DIVULGE DETAILS OF HIS FORTHCOMING
RECOMMENDATIONS, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IT WILL PROPOSE A
TWO-PRONGED STRATEGY, WHEREBY WASHINGTON WOULD OFFER ECONOMIC
BENEFITS -- INCLUDING AN EASING OF ITS TRADE EMBARGO -- IN
RETURN FOR PYONGYANG'S COOPERATION.
SOUTH KOREAN REPORTS SAY IF THIS FAILS, MR. PERRY IS RECOMMENDING
WASHINGTON WOULD PURSUE A MORE HARDLINE STRATEGY AIMED AT
ISOLATING THE NORTH. THIS WOULD CONFLICT WITH SEOUL'S INTENTION
TO DRAW CLOSER TO ITS OLD ENEMY THROUGH EXPANDED CONTACTS.
THE REPORT'S FINAL FORM COULD BE LARGELY DETERMINED BY THE
OUTCOME OF ONGOING TALKS IN NEW YORK BETWEEN U-S AND NORTH
KOREAN OFFICIALS, OVER ACCESS TO A CONSTRUCTION SITE WASHINGTON
BELIEVES MAY BE A NUCLEAR PLANT IN THE MAKING.
PYONGYANG INSISTS THE SITE IS CIVILIAN IN NATURE, AND HAD
DEMANDED 300 MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO
NEWS REPORTS, THE TWO SIDES ARE DISCUSSING A DEAL WHEREBY NORTH
KOREA WOULD GET ADDITIONAL FOOD AID IN RETURN FOR ALLOWING
INSPECTIONS OF THIS AND OTHER SITES.
FAILURE TO STRIKE A DEAL COULD EXPOSE THE REGION TO THE PROSPECT
OF A NUCLEAR-ARMED NORTH KOREA. ANALYSTS HERE BELIEVE A
CONTINUING STALEMATE ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE WILL PERSUADE MR PERRY
TO TAKE A HARDLINE IN HIS REPORT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC
08-Mar-99 3:40 AM EST (0840 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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