DATE=5/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249964
TITLE=KOREA / PERRY / L
BYLINE=JOH N LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA WILLIAM PERRY HAS
RETURNED FROM A FOUR-DAY VISIT TO THE STALINIST COUNTRY --
ANNOUNCING SATURDAY HE SUCCESSFULLY CONVEYED WASHINGTON'S
CONCERNS ABOUT ITS SUSPECTED WEAPONS PROGRAMS. JOHN LARKIN
REPORTS FROM SEOUL MR. PERRY SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MEET WITH THE
LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, KIM JONG-IL.
TEXT -- MR. PERRY HAD HOPED TO MEET MR. KIM TO PRESS HOME U-S
CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECURITY THREAT POSED BY THE NORTH'S SUSPECTED
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND LONG-RANGE MISSILE PROGRAMS. AT A NEWS
CONFERENCE, THE FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID HE WAS,
NONETHELESS, ABLE TO ESTABLISH VALUABLE LINKS WITH SENIOR NORTH
KOREAN OFFICIALS.
// PERRY ACTUALITY //
I DID NOT MEET WITH D-P-R-K LEADER KIM JONG-IL. QUITE
FRANKLY, WE HAD NOT EXPECTED TO MEET HIM ALTHOUGH WE HAD
INDICATED TO OUR HOSTS THAT SUCH A MEETING WOULD BE
USEFUL. A KEY GOAL OF MINE IN THIS VISIT WAS TO
ESTABLISH MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
SENIOR D-P-R-K OFFICIALS WITH DIRECT LINKS TO THE
D-P-R-K'S LEADER AN TO CONVEY TO THEM, CLEARLY AND
FIRMLY, US AND ALLIED VIEWS AND CONCERNS. I HAVE NO
DOUBT THAT GOAL WAS ACHIEVED.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR PERRY'S DELEGATION WAS THE HIGHEST-RANKING TEAM OF U-S
OFFICIALS EVER TO VISIT NORTH KOREA. ITS PURPOSE WAS TO CONVINCE
PYONGYANG TO RENOUNCE DEVELOPING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IN
RETURN FOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INCENTIVES.
CHIEF AMONG THESE INCENTIVES IS AN EXPANSION OF PYONGYANG'S
RELATIONS WITH THE WASHINGTON -- POSSIBLY IN THE FORM OF AN END
TO THE TRADE EMBARGO WASHINGTON HAS IMPOSED AGAINST NORTH KOREA.
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG -- WHO IS TRYING TO ENGAGE
THE RECLUSIVE NORTH -- HINTED AS MUCH IN AN INTERVIEW LAST WEEK.
MR. PERRY WOULD NOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT HIS PACKAGE OF
INCENTIVES -- SAYING ONLY THAT SENIOR NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS GAVE
NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. STILL, HE SAYS IS ENCOURAGED THE MEETINGS
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WERE HELD IN A FRIENDLY AND CONSTRUCTIVE
ATMOSPHERE.
// PERRY ACTUALITY //
I HAVE ALREADY CHARACTERIZED THE TONE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
BUT LET ME ADD THAT I ALSO FOUND THEM VERY INTENSIVE,
EXTREMELY SUBSTANTIVE AND QUITE VALUABLE IN PROVIDING ME
WITH INSIGHTS INTO D-P-R-K THINKING ON KEY ISSUES OF
CONCERN. I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF OUR
DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS OF
GREAT IMPORTANCE.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE PERRY DELEGATION PASSED ON A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON TO
KIM JONG-IL, BUT MR. PERRY DID NOT DISCLOSE THE MESSAGE'S
CONTENTS. // OPT // HE SAYS HE WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH KIM
YOUNG-NAM -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDIUM OF NORTH KOREA'S
SUPREME PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY -- AND GENERAL RI YONG CHOL, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE COMMISSION, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY
KIM JONG-IL. // END OPT //
SENIOR NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS TOLD THE U-S DELEGATION EXISTING
COMMITMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES, SUCH AS ONGOING MISSILE
TALKS, WOULD BE HONORED. MR. PERRY -- WHO IS SPEARHEADING A
REVIEW OF U-S POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA -- WILL BRIEF PRESIDENT
CLINTON ON HIS RETURN TO WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
29-May-99 6:54 AM EDT (1054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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