DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248908
TITLE==NORTH KOREA ECON (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHIEF U-S NEGOTIATOR WITH NORTH KOREA SAYS HE EXPECTS
THAT COUNTRY'S ECONOMY TO BEGIN IMPROVING SOON -- A DEVELOPMENT
THAT COULD HELP IT OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: AMBASSADOR CHARLES KARTMAN IS INVOLVED IN THE MOST
DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS NOW UNDERWAY WITH NORTH KOREA. THEY
INCLUDE TALKS AIMED AT ESTABLISHING A PEACE TREATY TO FORMALLY
END THE KOREAN WAR AND EFFORTS TO PREVENT NORTH KOREA FROM
BUILDING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
MR. KARTMAN SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL IF PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT HE SAYS HE DOES EXPECT THE
CLIMATE SURROUNDING THOSE TALKS TO IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THE REASON, HE SAYS, IS THAT NORTH KOREA'S ECONOMY APPEARS TO
HAVE BOTTOMED-OUT AND THE COUNTRY'S LONG-ISOLATED GOVERNMENT IS
NOW PREPARING FOR IMPROVED ECONOMIC PROSPECTS, ALONG WITH
EXPANDED TIES WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
/// KARTMAN ACT ///
FOR NORTH KOREA THIS IS PROBABLY A TRANSITION YEAR. THE
TRANSITION BETWEEN THE NORTH KOREA WHICH WAS DEATHLY
AFRAID OF ENGAGING THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND UNABLE TO GIVE
UP SOME OF ITS OLD DOGMA OF THREATENING THE SOUTH,
HOLDING THE U-S AS THE DEVIL -- THE OLD KIM IL-SUNG
YEARS, AND THEN THE YEARS OF MOURNING -- TO NEXT YEAR,
WHICH WILL BE SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT, PARTICULARLY ON
THE ECONOMIC SIDE, OF FIRMLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF KIM
JONG-IL, KIM IL-SUNG'S SON, WITH MUCH MORE ROBUST
RELATIONS WITH ALL OF THE KEY OTHER FOREIGN ACTORS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. KARTMAN SAYS THAT BASED ON HIS KNOWLEDGE OF NORTH KOREA, IT
IS CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT REALIZES IT MUST IMPROVE THE
COUNTRY'S ECONOMY, WHICH HAS BEEN DETERIORATING STEADILY OVER THE
PAST DECADE. HE SAYS ONE HAS TO ASSUME THAT NORTH KOREA'S PLANS
TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY INCLUDE MEASURES TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY IN THE ECONOMIC AREA.
EXAMPLES OF THIS INTENTION, HE SAYS, INCLUDE PLANS TO SIGN A
TREATY OF AMITY WITH RUSSIA AND PLANS FOR HIGH LEVEL VISITS TO
BEIJING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS -- BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO
HAVE STRONG ECONOMIC COMPONENTS.
MR. KARTMAN SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS NOT YET MADE ITS INTENTIONS
CLEAR IN ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT -- THAT IS SOUTH KOREA'S OFFER OF WIDE RANGING
ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT. MR. KARTMAN SAYS ACCEPTANCE OF THAT OFFER
WOULD BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MOVE NORTH KOREA COULD MAKE TO
BRING ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS "THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SITUATION."
MR. KARTMAN MADE THE REMARKS AT AN ECONOMIC FORUM AT THE NEW
YORK-BASED ASIA SOCIETY.
NORTH KOREA HAS REJECTED MOST AID OFFERS FROM SOUTH KOREA IN THE
PAST. DIPLOMATS SAY NORTH KOREA IS SUSPICIOUS OF THE SOUTH AND
BELIEVES IT WILL TRY TO USE AID TO UNDERMINE THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY SAY ACCEPTANCE OF AID FROM THE SOUTH WOULD ALSO WEAKEN NORTH
KOREA'S DOMESTIC CLAIM THAT IT IS ECONOMICALLY SUPERIOR TO THE
SOUTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PHW/PT
03-May-99 5:46 PM EDT (2146 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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