DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246717
TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS AGREED TO ALLOW
INSPECTION OF A CONTROVERSIAL UNDERGROUND SITE SUSPECTED OF BEING
A NUCLEAR FACILITY. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING
REPORTS.
TEXT: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE AGREEMENT ANSWERS ALL
U-S CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUSPECT NORTH KOREAN UNDERGROUND SITE. A
JOINT U-S NORTH KOREAN STATEMENT RELEASED IN NEW YORK SAYS THE
DEAL WILL CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, A U-S TEAM IS EXPECTED TO VISIT THE SUSPECT
SITE IN MAY. OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO
INSPECT ANY PART OF THE SITE AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY.
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THE UNDERGROUND SITE COULD BE
PART OF A NORTH KOREAN EFFORT TO REVIVE A NUCLEAR PROGRAM THAT
WAS SUSPENDED UNDER A 1994 AGREEMENT.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY DID NOT AGREE TO NORTH KOREAN DEMANDS FOR
COMPENSATION TO ALLOW THE INSPECTIONS. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE
UNITED STATES HAS AGREED TO TAKE PART IN A JOINT AGRICULTURE
PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVING POTATO PRODUCTION IN NORTH KOREA.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE TWO NATIONS HAVE
ALSO AGREED TO RESUME TALKS ON NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAM.
// RUBIN ACT //
BROADLY SPEAKING THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PREVENT, NOW THAT
WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD ON THE NUCLEAR SIDE IN PREVENTING
THEM FROM DEVELOPING A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, BUT ALSO TO
TURN TO THE MISSILE SIDE OF THE EQUATION, AND GET THEM
TO ADVANCE OUR PROLIFERATION GOALS IN THAT AREA.
// END ACT //
NORTH KOREA HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG AND
MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES THAT HAVE CAUSED CONCERN IN THE REGION AND
IN THE UNITED STATES.
U-S OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO NEGOTIATE LIMITATIONS ON THE NORTH
KOREAN MISSILE PROGRAM AND GET NORTH KOREA TO AGREE TO PREVENT
ANY TRANSFER OF ITS MISSILE TECHNOLOGY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/LTD/PT
16-Mar-99 3:24 PM EST (2024 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|