DATE=9/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA MISSILE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253793
BYLINE=HYUN SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States says that it has come to
agreement with North Korea over Pyongyang's missile
program, following six days of talks in Berlin. But as
Hyun-Sung Khang reports from the South Korean capital,
the exact details of any agreement have yet to be made
public.
TEXT: President Clinton's National Security advisor,
Sandy Berger, said North Korea agreed not to test fire
any missile while talks continued on how to improve
relations between the two countries.
As a consequence of the agreement, United States
officials will consider a number of measures to ease
economic sanctions against the reclusive state and are
expected to make recommendations to the President.
It is unclear which of the myriad of economic
sanctions against Pyongyang might be lifted, but one
major South Korean newspaper said that the United
States had agreed to take North Korea off its list of
enemy states. Media reports from Seoul say that the
two countries will hold expert-level talks on the
issue, during which the details of any agreement would
be hammered out.
Mr. Berger's comments come after six days of talks in
Berlin between representatives from the United States
and North Korea. Following the meeting, the two
countries issued a joint statement saying that both
countries would try to preserve a positive atmosphere
conducive to peace and security in the region.
United States officials say each side had reached a
deeper understanding of the other's concerns and had
acknowledged the need to continue taking steps to
address those concerns.
The agreement - which was widely reported in South
Korea before being officially announced -- has been
hailed by one South Korean paper as a
"major breakthrough" and as the first step towards
dismantling the Cold War structure on the Korean
peninsula.
It has also been welcomed by South Korean President,
Kim Dae Jung, who said Seoul would faithfully play a
role in implementing the agreement.
News of the deal comes a day after President Kim's
meeting at the APEC summit with President Clinton and
the Japanese Prime Minister, Keizo
Obuchi. During their talks, the leaders discussed
ways of discouraging North Korea from test firing a
missile.
Intelligence reports suggested that North Korea had
been preparing to test fire a second long-range
missile, which may have the capability to reach parts
of the United States. The first was fired over Japan,
just over a year ago and since then the United States,
Japan and South Korea have been engaged in a concerted
bid to prevent a second launch by Pyongyang.
NEB/HSK/GC/PLM
13-Sep-1999 06:46 AM EDT (13-Sep-1999 1046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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