DATE=6/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251116
TITLE=U-S / KOREA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
UNABLE TO GET ACCESS TO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN ARRESTED IN NORTH
KOREA LAST WEEK. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING
REPORTS.
TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE AMERICAN WAS ARRESTED
JUNE 17TH WHILE ON A TRIP RELATED TO BUILDING A HOSPITAL AND A
GARMENT MANUFACTURING BUSINESS.
OFFICIALS PROVIDED FEW OTHER DETAILS OF THE ARREST, WHICH WAS
MADE PUBLIC FRIDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE UNITED STATES HAS NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA,
SO THE SWEDISH EMBASSY, WHICH REPRESENTS U-S INTERESTS IN
PYONGYANG, IS SEEKING ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN
THAT ACCESS HAS SO FAR NOT BEEN GRANTED, AS REQUIRED BY THE
VIENNA CONVENTION.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
WE WANT QUICK ACCESS. WE WANT EARLY ACCESS, I DON'T
BELIEVE THERE IS A NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE VIENNA
CONVENTION, SO I WILL HAVE TO CHECK WITH OUR LAWYERS TO
DESCRIBE OUR CONCERN THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD QUICK ACCESS.
/// END ACT ///
THE ARREST WAS MADE PUBLIC AS U-S, SOUTH KOREAN, AND JAPANESE
OFFICIALS BEGAN MEETING IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH KOREA AND HOW TO COORDINATE POLICY TOWARD
PYONGYANG.
TENSIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED IN
THE PAST WEEK BY SOUTH KOREA'S SINKING OF A NORTH KOREAN PATROL
BOAT DURING A CONFRONTATION IN DISPUTED WATERS OF THE YELLOW SEA.
IN THE LAST WEEK THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INDICATIONS NORTH KOREA MAY
BE PREPARING NEW TESTS OF A LONG RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE, A MOVE
THAT U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN HOPING TO PREVENT. A TOP STATE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WARNED THURSDAY OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IF
THE TEST GOES AHEAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/GM
25-Jun-99 5:33 PM EDT (2133 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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