DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249741
TITLE=PERRY / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BEGINNING TODAY (TUESDAY), SPECIAL WHITE HOUSE ENVOY
WILLIAM PERRY IS IN NORTH KOREA FOR A FOUR-DAY VISIT AIMED AT
IMPROVING TIES WITH PYONGYANG'S LEADERSHIP. ON MONDAY, THE
SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS TOLD REPORTERS MR.
PERRY'S TRIP IS BEING WATCHED WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM IN SOUTH
KOREA.
TEXT: AMBASSADOR SEE-YOUNG LEE SAYS FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY
PERRY AND HIS SEVEN-MEMBER DELEGATION -- THE HIGHEST-LEVEL
DELEGATION TO VISIT NORTH KOREA IN HALF A CENTURY -- IS CARRYING
WHAT HE CALLED A "PACKAGE DEAL" TO PRESENT TO THE NORTH KOREAN
LEADER, KIM JONG IL.
HE SAYS THE PACKAGE -- HAMMERED OUT IN WASHINGTON AFTER CLOSE
CONSULATATIONS WITH LEADERS IN SEOUL AND TOKYO -- CONTAINS
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INCENTIVES, POSSIBLY EVEN AN OFFER TO
EASE SANCTIONS. IN RETURN, MR. PERRY'S TEAM WILL ASK FOR A
FULL DISCLOSURE AND REDUCTION OF NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR AND
LONG-RANGE MISSILE PROGRAMS.
// FIRST LEE ACT //
OUR JOINT EFFORTS ARE NOW AT A CRITICAL STAGE. WE BELIEVE THE
PACKAGE DEAL PRESENTS THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME WITH ITS BEST
CHANCE FOR THEIR SURVIVAL, BUT IT MAY BE THEIR LAST CHANCE AS
WELL.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS THE U-S ATTEMPT AT DIPLOMACY WITH PYONGYANG
IS IN LINE WITH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG'S SO-CALLED
"SUNSHINE POLICY" OF ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA.
SOME SOUTH KOREAN COMPANIES ARE NOW ALLOWED TO DIRECTLY INVEST IN
PARTS OF NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS ARE TRICKLING IN
FOR BRIEF VISITS.
BUT AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NORTH HAS NOT ALWAYS
YIELDED POSITIVE RESULTS.
NORTH KOREA CONTINUES TO ADHERE TO ITS ANTI-WESTERN PROPAGANDA
AND LAST AUGUST, IT TEST-FIRED A LONG-RANGE MISSILE OVER JAPAN,
RAISING CONSIDERABLE ALARM IN ASIA AND IN THE UNITED STATES.
// SECOND LEE ACT //
ALL OF THIS INDICATES THAT THE NORTH KOREAN LEADERSHIP DOES NOT
YET TRUST THE NEW APPROACH OF THE SOUTH, PERCEIVING OUR
ENGAGEMENT POLICY AS A SORT OF A CONSPIRACY TO ACCELERATE
TRANSITION AND EVENTUALLY ITS COLLAPSE.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE MISTRUST, MR. PERRY'S MISSION
IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER.
BUT HE SAYS HE HOPES NORTH KOREA -- NOW ONE OF THE UNITED STATES'
BIGGEST RECIPIENTS IN FOOD AID -- WILL SEE THAT ITS SURVIVAL
DEPENDS ON COOPERATION WITH WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
NEB/AR/PLM
24-May-99 11:30 PM EDT (0330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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