DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251744
TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA (L-O)
BYLINE=KARRIN AMODEO
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI IS WARNING THAT
ANOTHER LONG-RANGE MISSILE TEST BY NORTH KOREA WOULD SERIOUSLY
AFFECT REGIONAL SECURITY AND HURT PYONGYANG'S OWN INTERESTS. THE
WARNING COMES AS JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES
COORDINATE THEIR POSITION ON A POSSIBLE TEST FIRE BY THE
RECLUSIVE COMMUNIST STATE. KARRIN AMODEO REPORTS FROM TOKYO.
TEXT: MR. OBUCHI TOLD A PARLIAMENTARY PANEL HERE ON WEDNESDAY
THAT ANY TEST MISSILE LAUNCH WILL HAVE A SERIOUS EFFECT ON
JAPAN'S SECURITY AND NORTHEAST ASIA'S PEACE AND PROSPERITY. HE
ADDED THAT NORTH KOREA'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD
ALSO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
LAST AUGUST, NORTH KOREA TEST-FIRED A MISSILE THAT FLEW OVER
JAPAN AND LANDED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. ANALYSTS SAY THE
TEST-FIRING OF ANOTHER MISSILE POSES NOT JUST SECURITY
PROBLEMS FOR JAPAN -- BUT POLITICAL ONES AS WELL.
MR. OBUCHI REPEATED EARLIER COMMENTS THAT A TEST FIRE COULD SWAY
PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST JAPAN'S PLANNED CONTRIBUTION OF ONE
BILLION DOLLARS FOR TWO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN NORTH KOREA.
UNDER A 1994 AGREEMENT, NORTH KOREA GETS FIVE BILLION DOLLARS
WORTH OF FREE FUEL AND TWO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IF IT FREEZES ITS
NUCLEAR AND MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH
JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER MASAHIKO KOMURA AND DEFENSE AGENCY
CHIEF HOSEI NORATA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS NORTH
KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAM.
MR. OBUCHI HAS ALSO ASKED CHINA AND MONGOLIA TO RELATE JAPAN'S
CONCERNS TO THE NORTH. PYONGYANG ON TUESDAY CRITICIZED JAPAN FOR
SEEKING DIPLOMATIC HELP IN THIS MATTER, ADDING THAT IT IS MERELY
LAUNCHING SATELLITES, WHICH IS ITS SOVEREIGN RIGHT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KA/GC/JO/KL
14-Jul-99 6:46 AM EDT (1046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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