DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249742
TITLE=JAPAN / PERRY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY WILLIAM PERRY GOES TO NORTH KOREA
TUESDAY, HEADING THE HIGHEST U-S DELEGATION TO VISIT THE
STALINIST STATE SINCE THE KOREAN WAR. JOCELYN FORD REPORTS FROM
TOKYO, MR. PERRY IS CARRYING PROPOSALS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON TO
EASE TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA
TEXT: U-S PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY WILLIAM PERRY IS VISITING PYONGYANG
AS PART OF WASHINGTON'S REVIEW OF ITS POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA.
HE IS ALSO BRINGING WITH HIM A JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE UNITED
STATES, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, AS WELL AS A SEPARATE
COMMUNICATION FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON. MR. PERRY MET IN TOKYO
ON MONDAY WITH SENIOR SOUTH KOREAN AND JAPANESE OFFICIALS, AND
THE NATIONS AGREED THEY SHOULD TAKE A COORDINATED APPROACH TOWARD
PYONGYANG.
THE THREE PARTIES DID NOT SAY WHAT THEY PLAN TO CONVEY TO NORTH
KOREA. BUT LAST WEEK SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER HONG
SOON-YOUNG SAID MR. PERRY WOULD BRING A PACKAGE OF ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL INCENTIVES TO PYONGYANG AND THAT THE VISIT COULD TURN
OUT TO BE A MILESTONE.
IN 1994, PYONGYANG AGREED TO FREEZE ITS SUSPECT NUCLEAR PROGRAM
IN RETURN FOR A PROMISE FROM SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, THE UNITED
STATES AND OTHERS TO SUPPLY THE NORTH WITH FUEL OIL AND HELP
BUILD TWO SAFE NUCLEAR REACTORS IN NORTH KOREA. BUT THAT
AGREEMENT HAS NOT GONE SMOOTHLY.
AMONG THE KEY CONCERNS IS POSSIBLE WORK AT AN UNDERGROUND NORTH
KOREAN FACILITY THAT U-S OFFICIALS FEAR MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO
BUILD AND HOUSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. MR. PERRY'S VISIT COMES LESS
THAN 24 HOURS AFTER A TEAM OF U-S EXPERTS COMPLETED A
LONG-AWAITED INSPECTION OF THE FACILITY . ANOTHER WORRY IS
NORTH KOREA'S DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-STAGE ROCKET WHICH WAS
LAUNCHED LAST SUMMER AND FLEW OVER JAPAN.
IT IS NOT NOT KNOWN WHOM MR. PERRY WILL MEET WITH DURING HIS
VISIT TO PYONGYANG. WASHINGTON IS HOPEFUL THAT HE WILL MEET
WITH NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-IL.
MR. PERRY WILL TRAVEL TO SEOUL ON SATURDAY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF
CONSULTATIONS WITH JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS. HE IS TO
MAKE HIS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON, AT THE END
OF JUNE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/GC/PLM
25-May-99 5:01 AM EDT (0901 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|