DATE=6/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251039
TITLE=KOREA TALKS (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS MET FOR A SECOND DAY OF
TALKS IN BEIJING AS THE NORTH PROPOSED THAT A SEPARATE SET OF
STALLED MEETINGS WITH SOUTH KOREA BE RESUMED ON SATURDAY. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS SOUTH KOREAN DIPLOMATS SAY
THEY ARE CONSULTING WITH SEOUL TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO ACCEPT
THE NORTH KOREAN PROPOSAL.
TEXT: A SOUTH KOREAN SPOKESMAN SAYS NORTH KOREA SUGGESTED
THURSDAY THAT IT WANTS TO RESUME THE FIRST OFFICIAL NORTH-SOUTH
TALKS IN 14 MONTHS. THE TALKS BROKE DOWN ON TUESDAY AFTER ONLY
90 MINUTES WHEN NORTH KOREA DEMANDED AN APOLOGY FOR SOUTH KOREA'S
SINKING OF ONE OF ITS GUNBOATS LAST WEEK IN THE YELLOW SEA.
THE SOUTH KOREAN SPOKESMAN -- WI KEYEI-CHUL -- SAYS HIS
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET ACCEPTED THE NORTH KOREAN PROPOSAL. HE
SAYS THAT --UPON RECEIVING WORD FROM SEOUL -- HIS DELEGATION
WILL NOTIFY THE NORTH KOREANS. MR. WI SAYS THE TWO SIDES WILL
TALK ON THE TELEPHONE FRIDAY TO ARRANGE DETAILS OF THE MEETING IF
SEOUL ACCEPTS THE PROPOSAL.
SEOUL IS EAGER TO DISCUSS REUNITING FAMILIES SEPARATED SINCE THE
KOREAN WAR ENDED, 46 YEARS AGO. ON WEDNESDAY A SOUTH KOREAN
SPOKESMAN SAID HIS COUNTRY WILL STOP SHIPPING FERTILIZER TO THE
FAMINE-STRICKEN NORTH IF THE COMMUNIST STATE REFUSES TO ALLOW THE
REUNION OF SEPARATED FAMILIES.
AS THE NORTH-SOUTH DANCE PLAYED OUT, NORTH KOREAN VICE FOREIGN
MINISTER KIM GYE-GWAN WAS HOLDING A SECOND MEETING WITH U-S ENVOY
CHARLES KARTMAN IN ANOTHER BEIJING HOTEL. ALTHOUGH NEITHER SIDE
WOULD OFFER ANY COMMENT ON THE TALKS, WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE
MAIN ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A U-S OFFER TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH
PYONGYANG -- IF IT GIVES UP ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROGRAMS.
THAT OFFER WAS OUTLINED LAST MONTH BY PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY WILLIAM
PERRY ON A VISIT TO NORTH KOREA. U-S DIPLOMATS SAY MR. PERRY
SUGGESTED THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD END ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
AGAINST THE RECLUSIVE STATE AND POSSIBLY OPEN FULL DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH IT.
ON WEDNESDAY, MR. KARTMAN BRIEFED MR. KIM ON THE FINDINGS OF A
U-S INSPECTION OF AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL COMPLEX IN NORTH KOREA
WASHINGTON SUSPECTED OF BEING A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY.
ALTHOUGH THE INSPECTORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS BEING USED
AS SUCH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT STILL HARBORS SUSPICIONS
ABOUT THE SITE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/JO
24-Jun-99 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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