DATE=7/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=KOREA MISSILE TALKS L-UPDATE
NUMBER=2-252282
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=SEOUL
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South Korean President Kim Dae-jung says North
Korea should be offered incentives to persuade the
reclusive communist state to abandon plans for a
controversial missile test. President Kim's comments
follow a meeting Thursday with visiting U-S Defense
Secretary William Cohen. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports,
Mr. Cohen's meetings ended with Seoul and Washington
arguing over South Korea's request to improve its own
ballistic missile capabilities.
TEXT: South Korea has some ballistic missiles, but
they will not fly far enough to hit targets in
northern North Korea. The weapons were developed with
U-S help and came with the condition that Seoul not
try to boost their range.
But in light of North Korea's missile test last year
and its threat to try out another one soon, Seoul
officials say they need weapons with longer reach.
At a Thursday news conference, South Korean Defense
Minister Cho Seong Tae said he hopes to work out an
agreement on the issue soon, but made it clear there
were disagreements during the talks he held with the
American Defense Secretary.
/// Cho act ///
We exchanged frank views on(South) Korea's voluntary
missile restraint, and fully understood the positions
of each other. In principal, our two sides shared the
view that the current voluntary restraint should be
adjusted.
/// end act ///
Minister Cho spoke through an interpreter and said the
two sides agreed to continue talks between lower level
officials.
Mr. Cohen said the United States strongly supports
South Korea, but must weigh the support due a close
friend against the need to slow the spread of
ballistic missile technology.
U-S officials appear worried that that giving a close
ally like South Korea better missile technology will
make it harder to persuade other nations to forgo the
weapons.
Arms control advocates say once one nation in a region
gets missile technology, neighboring governments feel
great pressure to acquire similar weapons.
// OPT // Washington argues ballistic missiles make it
possible for clashes between neighbors to escalate
quickly to catastrophic levels of destruction. // END
OPT //
Defense Minister Cho says North Korea is still working
on its missile launch site.
President Kim did not say what benefits should be
offered to North Korea if it stops preparations for
another ballistic missile test. Mr. Kim has long
advocated a policy of engagement designed to decrease
confrontation and increase dialogue between the two
Koreas. Mr. Kim has encouraged the United States and
Japan to open diplomatic relations with the North and
send economic aid.
But Thursday, President Kim joined Secretary Cohen in
warning Pyongyang might suffer further economic and
diplomatic sanctions if it goes ahead with the missile
launch.
Korea is the second stop on Mr. Cohen's five nation
journey to consult with Asian and European defense
officials. He heads for Ukraine and Georgia later in
the week. (signed)
Neb/jr/jo
29-Jul-1999 09:28 AM LOC (29-Jul-1999 1328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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