DATE=6/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251275
TITLE=NORTH KOREA MISSILE - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS ANOTHER NORTH-KOREAN
MISSILE TEST COULD HURT RELATIONS BETWEEN PYONGYANG AND
WASHINGTON. THE WARNING FROM THE PENTAGON'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR
ASIAN ISSUES FOLLOWS REPORTS NORTH KOREA IS PREPARING TO TEST A
NEW MISSILE THAT MIGHT REACH ACROSS OCEANS. CORRESPONDENT JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE KURT CAMPBELL SAYS
U-S INTELLIGENCE HAS DETECTED SIGNS OF ACTIVITY NEAR NORTH
KOREA'S MISSILE LAUNCH SITE.
(IN A BREAKFAST MEETING WITH REPORTERS) MR. CAMPBELL SAYS A TEST
LIKE THE ONE THAT ANGERED NORTH KOREA'S NEIGHBORS LAST AUGUST
WOULD HAVE -- VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES -- FOR U-S.RELATIONS WITH
THE RECLUSIVE COMMUNIST NATION.
NORTH KOREA SHOCKED THE REGION WITH ITS LAST TEST, FIRING A
THREE-STAGE ROCKET OVER JAPAN AND FAR OUT INTO THE PACIFIC.
PYONGYANG SAID IT WAS TO PUT A SATELLITE INTO ORBIT, BUT THE
JAPANESE SAY IT WAS A LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE.
THAT INCIDENT PROMPTED WASHINGTON TO RETHINK ITS POLICIES TOWARD
NORTH KOREA AND OFFER TO END DECADES OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
AGAINST NORTH KOREA IN EXCHANGE FOR ENDING MISSILE DEVELOPMENT.
A TOP PENTAGON OFFICIAL WITH ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
TELLS V-O-A A LAUNCH COULD COME IN A FEW MONTHS, BUT IS PROBABLY
NOT IMMINENT.
THE UNITED STATES REPORTEDLY MOVED A SPECIALIZED SHIP WITH
MISSILE TRACKING RADARS AND COMPUTERS CLOSER TO KOREA IN THE PAST
FEW DAYS. INTELLIGENCE SOURCES WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE SHIP'S
MISSION, BUT SAY WATCHING NORTH-KOREAN WEAPONS AND MISSILE
PROGRAMS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL U-S SPY AGENCIES.
TENSIONS ON THE PENINSULA HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED BY RECENT CLASHES
BETWEEN SOUTH AND NORTH KOREAN PATROL BOATS IN WHICH ONE SMALL
NORTH KOREAN SHIP WAS SUNK BY GUNFIRE AND SEVERAL OTHERS DAMAGED.
(SIGNED).
NEB/JR/LTD/RAE
30-Jun-99 2:39 PM EDT (1839 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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