DATE=9/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/NORTH KOREA (L)
NUMBER=2-254028
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States has announced a lifting of
some economic sanctions against Communist North Korea
in response to the North's pledge to refrain from
further tests of long-range missiles. Correspondent
Nick Simeone has details on what could lead to the
most significant thaw in relations between both
countries since the end of the Korean conflict nearly
50 years ago.
TEXT: U-S intelligence officials had been warning the
North was preparing to follow up last year's surprise
test-firing of a long-range rocket with another more
advanced missile, this one perhaps capable of
delivering a warhead as far as away as Alaska or
Hawaii. But the Clinton Administration says it now
has achieved an understanding with Pyongyang that
North Korea will not go ahead with such tests as
long as negotiations continue on improving relations
with Washington.
The U-S sanctions being lifted include those covering
the buying and selling of non-military consumer goods,
as well as financial transactions between North
Koreans and Americans. Commercial American ships and
planes will be allowed visit to North Korea, while
diplomatic contacts increase.
It was North Korea's pledge to freeze missile tests
that led President Clinton's special adviser on North
Korea, William Perry, to recommend some sanctions be
waived while efforts continue toward normalizing
relations.
/// PERRY ACT ///
I think both sides would see that that test is a
positive step, but not terribly significant in
and of itself. And both sides are looking
forward to moving to a path of normalization, a
normalization of diplomatic relations,
normalization of economic relations and, in both
cases, all countries concerned I think will see
a considerable benefit.
/// END ACT ///
But the pledge North Korea made to freeze missile
testing falls short of a formal agreement and appears
to be based only on verbal assurances given to Mr.
Perry during a visit to Pyongyang. Washington and its
Asian allies already have suspicions about the North's
nuclear intentions despite a 1994 agreement meant to
freeze production of weapons-grade plutonium.
// OPT // Still, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
calls this a potentially important turning point.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
It is a road that holds out the possibility of
long-term stability and even eventual
reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. It's a
road America and its allies want to walk down
with the North, but it is not a one-way street.
If circumstances warrant that we go back to
square one, we can do so without damage to our
interests. If circumstances require that we go
down a different road altogether, we will do so
to defend our interests.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
On Capitol Hill, support for the easing of sanctions
is mixed, with some Republicans opposed.
// OPT // Senate Majority leader Trent Lott:
/// LOTT ACT ///
North Korea has taken threatening actions. They
have not always kept their word. Now, the
President is first going to act to grant relief
on trade and other restrictions in anticipation
of some actions or restraint by North Korea. So
I have some questions about it.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
Despite its pledge not to test long-range missiles,
the United States achieved no firm commitment that
the cash-strapped North Korean government will not
export missile technology to rogue nations. And
despite the easing of some sanctions, the North will
remain on the U-S government's list of terrorist-
supporting nations. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/WTW
17-Sep-1999 17:29 PM EDT (17-Sep-1999 2129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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