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DATE=6/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250578
TITLE=KOREA STANDOFF (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
NORTH KOREA HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH UNITED NATIONS COMMAND 
OFFICERS IN AN EFFORT TO DEFUSE A TENSE STANDOFF AT ITS SEA 
BORDER WITH SOUTH KOREA.  JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT THE
MEETING COULD COME AS EARLY AS TUESDAY.  
TEXT:  IN A MESSAGE SENT EARLY SUNDAY, NORTH KOREA ACCEPTED A 
PROPOSAL FOR TALKS WITH THE U-N COMMAND AT THE TRUCE VILLAGE OF 
PANMUNJOM NEAR THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE SEPARATING THE TWO KOREAS. 
THE U-N COMMAND DESCRIBED PYONGYANG'S DECISION - CONVEYED TO U-N 
COMMAND OFFICIALS AT PANMUNJOM - AS A POSITIVE STEP. THE NORTH 
HAD EARLIER REJECTED TWO OFFERS FOR GENERAL OFFICER TALKS WITH 
THE U-N COMMAND.  
EARLIER ON SUNDAY, SOUTH KOREA SAID FOUR NORTH KOREAN NAVY SHIPS 
BRIEFLY INFILTRATED ITS WATERS BEFORE RETREATING INTO NORTHERN 
WATERS.  IT WAS THE SIXTH STRAIGHT DAY OF STANDOFF AT THE WESTERN
SEA BORDER KNOWN AS THE NORTHERN LIMIT LINE.  
SINCE TUESDAY, NORTH KOREAN NAVY VESSELS HAVE SAILED OVER THE 
LINE INTO A BUFFER ZONE CONTROLLED BY SOUTH KOREA.  THEY HAVE 
BEEN ESCORTING A FLEET OF FISHING BOATS OPERATING IN THE RICH 
CRAB-FISHING WATERS.  
SOUTH KOREA SENT DESTROYERS, FRIGATES AND PATROL BOATS TO THE 
ZONE TO INTIMIDATE THE HANDFUL OF NORTH KOREAN SHIPS INTO SAILING
HOME.  THE SITUATION ESCALATED ON FRIDAY, WHEN SOUTH KOREAN SHIPS
RAMMED NORTHERN VESSELS TO DRIVE THEM BACK OVER THE MARITIME 
FRONTIER.  
FOLLOWING THAT CONFRONTATION, THE NORTH THREATENED WHAT IT TERMED
SELF-DEFENSIVE STRIKES.  SOUTH KOREA'S MILITARY WAS PUT ON 
HEIGHTENED ALERT.  
NO SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED DURING THE STANDOFF, BUT IT HAS SET OFF 
ALARM BELLS AS THE TWO KOREAS ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF THEIR FIRST
OFFICIAL TALKS IN MORE THAN A YEAR - TO TAKE PLACE IN BEIJING ON 
JUNE 21ST.  
NORTH KOREA HAS NEVER RECOGNIZED THE WESTERN SEA BOUNDARY IN THE 
YELLOW SEA, WHICH WAS IMPOSED BY THE U-N COMMAND AFTER THE KOREAN
WAR ENDED IN 1953. (SIGNED)  
NEB/JL/PLM
13-Jun-99 3:34 AM EDT (0734 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.