DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246445
TITLE=PERRY / JAPAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WASHINGTON'S POLICY COORDINATOR ON NORTH KOREA, WILLIAM
PERRY, MET WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI AND OTHER
TOP JAPANESE LEADERS WEDNESDAY. JOCELYN FORD REPORTS FROM TOKYO,
MR. PERRY IS IN JAPAN TO SHARE HIS PROPOSAL FOR A NEW APPROACH TO
NORTH KOREA AND TO GET FEED BACK.
TEXT: THE U-S COORDINATOR ON NORTH KOREA, WILLIAM PERRY, WON
SUPPORT FROM JAPANESE LEADERS WEDNESDAY FOR A SET OF POLICY
PROPOSALS HE INTENDS TO PRESENT TO PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER THIS
MONTH. JAPANESE LEADERS SAID THEY WERE ASKED NOT TO RELEASE
DETAILS OF THE NEW POLICY, BUT THEY SAID IT REFLECTS THEIR
CONCERNS.
MR. PERRY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI
AND OTHER JAPANESE LEADERS HE MET AGREE ON THE NEED TO STAND
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER IN COUNTERING THE THREATS POSED BY NORTH
KOREA.
ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, MR. PERRY PLANS TO RECOMMEND A CARROT-
AND-STICK APPROACH TOWARD PYONGYANG. IF NORTH KOREA ADDRESSES
INTERNATIONAL WORRIES OVER ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE CAPABILITIES,
THEN THE UNITED STATES WILL REPORTEDLY RELAX ITS TRADE EMBARGO.
BUT IF PYONGYANG REJECTS THE OLIVE BRANCH, THE REPORTS SAY
WASHINGTON WILL TAKE A HARDLINE POSITION AND ISOLATE NORTH
KOREA.
TOKYO'S CONCERN ABOUT NEIGHBORING NORTH KOREA WAS HEIGHTENED LAST
SUMMER, WHEN PYONGYANG LAUNCHED A ROCKET THAT FLEW OVER NORTHERN
JAPAN. SINCE THEN, JAPAN HAS SAID IT WILL NOT RESUME FOOD AID
TO NORTH KOREA UNLESS PYONGYANG ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER ITS
MISSILE PROGRAM AND A SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY.
NORTH KOREA MAINTAINS THE FACILITY IS NOT A MILITARY
INSTALLATION.
MR. PERRY'S VISIT COMES AS JAPAN IS ADOPTING ITS OWN
REWARD-OR-PUNISHMENT APPROACH TO NORTH KOREA. TOKYO HAS MADE
OVERTURES TO PYONGYANG, SUGGESTING CLOSER CONTACTS. AT THE
SAME TIME, JAPAN HAS ASSERTED IT HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE A
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE TO AVERT A NORTH KOREAN MISSILE ATTACK.
JAPAN WAS THE LAST STOP ON MR. PERRY'S TOUR. HE ARRIVED TUESDAY
NIGHT FROM SEOUL, WHERE HE AND PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG AGREED THAT
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TOWARD PYONGYANG IS NECESSARY. SEOUL
HAS BEEN CONCERNED THAT WASHINGTON MIGHT DISRUPT ITS POLICY OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA, IF A HARDLINE OPTION IS ADOPTED.
MR PERRY HAS ALSO CONSULTED, DURING THIS TRIP, WITH LEADERS IN
CHINA AND TAIWAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/FC
10-Mar-99 6:29 AM EST (1129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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