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DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250095
TITLE=N.KOREA / S. KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET
IN BEIJING LATER THIS  MONTH, MARKING A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN 
INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS.  JOHN LARKIN  REPORTS FROM SEOUL THE 
MEETING WILL BE THE FIRST BETWEEN  OFFICIALS OF THE TWO 
GOVERNMENTS IN MORE THAN A YEAR.
 TEXT:  SEOUL'S UNIFICATION MINISTRY SAYS THE MEETING BETWEEN 
VICE-MINISTERIAL LEVEL OFFICIALS OF THE  TWO KOREAS WILL TAKE 
PLACE  IN BEIJING ON JUNE 21ST.   
 SENIOR SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS HAILED THE MOVE AS A MAJOR STEP 
FORWARD,  PREDICTING IT COULD FORM A BASIS FOR FURTHER 
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN MORE SENIOR OFFICIALS, ON WIDER ISSUES OF 
PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.  EARLIER THIS YEAR, NORTH KOREA 
REQUESTED SENIOR-LEVEL TALKS TAKE PLACE  SOMETIME THIS YEAR.
SEOUL OFFICIALS SAY THIS MONTH'S TALKS WILL ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN 
ISSUES,  SUCH AS REUNIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 
DIVIDED  PENINSULA, WHO HAVE BEEN SEPARATED SINCE THE KOREAN WAR 
ENDED IN 1953.
ALSO HIGH ON THE AGENDA WILL BE SEOUL'S PROVISION OF FERTILIZER 
TO THE  FAMINE-STRICKEN NORTH.  SIMILAR TALKS BROKE DOWN LAST 
APRIL OVER  DIFFERENCES ON AID DELIVERIES AND PYONGYANG'S REFUSAL
TO PROVIDE A  TIMETABLE FOR FAMILY REUNIONS.
 MEDIA REPORTS IN SEOUL SAY SOUTH KOREA IS OFFERING 200-THOUSAND 
TONS OF  CHEMICAL  FERTILIZER TO HELP SHORE UP THE NORTH'S 
DISINTEGRATING  AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM.
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG HINTED AT THE BREAKTHROUGH ON
MONDAY, SAYING THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OFFICIAL TALKS WOULD 
RESUME.  SOUTH KOREAN MEDIA SAY NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS 
HAD BEEN HOLDING  SECRET MEETINGS IN BEIJING TO ARRANGE THE 
DISCUSSIONS.
 ANALYSTS SAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT BODES WELL FOR WASHINGTON'S 
ATTEMPTS TO  PERSUADE NORTH KOREA TO HALT ITS SUSPECTED 
DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR  WEAPONS AND LONG-RANGE MISSILES.
 WILLIAM PERRY, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA,
RETURNED LAST WEEK FROM A PEACE-MAKING TRIP TO PYONGYANG, DURING 
WHICH  HE PROPOSED ECONOMIC BENEFITS IN EXCHANGE FOR CONCESSIONS 
ON SECURITY  ISSUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC/PLM
02-Jun-99 3:31 AM EDT (0731 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.