DATE=7/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251348
TITLE=KOREA TALKS (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH KOREA HAS SUSPENDED ITS TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA IN
BEIJING AND ACCUSED THE NORTH OF REFUSING TO DISCUSS THE KEY
ISSUE OF REUNITING FAMILIES DIVIDED BY THE KOREAN WAR. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS SOUTH KOREA'S CHIEF DELEGATE
SAYS HIS COUNTRY WILL SUSPEND DELIVERIES OF FERTILIZER TO NORTH
KOREA UNTIL IT IS READY TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH.
TEXT: SOUTH KOREAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR YANG YOUNG-SHIK SAYS HIS
DELEGATION HAS DECIDED TO RETURN TO SEOUL BECAUSE THE NORTH
KOREANS SHOW NO DESIRE TO TALK SERIOUSLY. HE SAYS THAT, WHEN THE
TALKS BROKE DOWN ON THURSDAY AFTER NORTH KOREA REFUSED TO DISCUSS
THE SEPARATED FAMILIES ISSUE, NORTHERN DELEGATES PROMISED TO
CONTACT THEIR SOUTHERN COUNTERPARTS BY TELEPHONE TO SET UP A NEW
MEETING. BUT THEY DID NOT. SO THE SOUTH KOREANS CALLED THE
NORTH KOREANS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING
HOME.
MR. YANG SAYS NORTH KOREA SIDELINED THE FIRST HIGH-LEVEL TALKS
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IN 14 MONTHS BY REPEATEDLY DEMANDING AN
APOLOGY FOR THE SOUTH'S SINKING OF A NORTH KOREAN GUNBOAT DURING
A NAVAL CLASH LAST MONTH IN THE YELLOW SEA. // OPT // AND ON
THURSDAY, HE SAID, THE NORTH ACCUSED THE SOUTH OF ALLOWING A
NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR TO CRITICIZE NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM
JONG-IL IN A SOUTH KOREAN MAGAZINE INTERVIEW. // END OPT //
THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL SAYS THE NORTH TOLD HIM IT WOULD ONLY
DISCUSS THE DIVIDED FAMILIES ISSUE WHEN SEOUL DELIVERED THE
200-THOUSAND TONS OF FERTILIZER IT PROMISED THE NORTH BY THE END
OF JULY. HALF OF THAT AMOUNT HAS ALREADY BEEN DELIVERED, BUT
THE SOUTH IS HOLDING FIRM ON SHIPPING THE REST UNTIL THE NORTH
DISCUSSES THE FAMILY REUNION ISSUE IN EARNEST.
REUNITING FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE KOREAN WAR IS THE TOP ISSUE
ON SEOUL'S AGENDA. PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG'S SO-CALLED SUNSHINE
POLICY OF ENGAGING NORTH KOREA IS UNDER FIRE AT HOME FOR FAILING
TO PRODUCE CONCRETE RESULTS. MR. KIM'S CRITICS SAY THE ONLY
THING IT (HIS POLICY) HAS BROUGHT IS A MORE BELLIGERENT ATTITUDE
ON THE PART OF PYONGYANG. THEY CITE THE NAVAL CLASH IN DISPUTED
WATERS AND THE DETENTION OF A SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST WHOM THE NORTH
ACCUSED OF ENTICING HER GUIDE TO DEFECT TO THE SOUTH.
A MEETING BETWEEN NORTH KOREAN GENERALS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS
FROM THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND AT THE TRUCE VILLAGE OF PANMUNJOM
BROKE DOWN FRIDAY. THE NORTH KOREANS ACCUSED SOUTH KOREA OF
CONTINUOUSLY VIOLATING ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS IN THE YELLOW SEA.
THE NORTH KOREAN NEWS AGENCY QUOTED ITS CHIEF DELEGATE --GENERAL
RI CHAN-BOK-- AS SAYING MORE BLOOD WILL FLOW UNLESS THE SOUTH
KOREAN NAVY STOPS SUCH INTRUSIONS. THE U-N COMMAND DENIED NORTH
KOREA'S CHARGES AND URGED THE NORTH NOT TO SEND ITS NAVY INTO THE
CONTESTED AREA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/JO
02-Jul-99 6:07 AM EDT (1007 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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