DATE=9/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - NORTH KOREA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254225
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton says he believes North Korea
will abide by its agreement to suspend missile
testing, but he warns the United States would take
unspecified action against Pyongyang if it reneges on
its promise. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from
the White House.
TEXT: In an appearance before reporters Wednesday to
welcome a Justice Department lawsuit against tobacco
companies, Mr. Clinton was asked whether he believes
North Korea will make good on its commitment to
refrain from testing long-range missiles while U.S.
and North Korean negotiators discuss improving
bilateral ties.
He said he did, but he added that if Pyongyang did not
abide by the agreement, Washington would respond.
He said the deal would help bring stability to the
Korean peninsula, where some 37-thousand U.S. troops
are stationed.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
It (the agreement) offers the most promising
opportunity to lift the cloud of uncertainty and
insecurity and danger that otherwise would hang
over that whole region, including the American
service men and women who are there. I am very
very hopeful about it. If it works it does, if
it does not, there will be other options open to
us.
/// END ACT ///
He did not elaborate, but his comments suggest that at
a minimum, Washington would reimpose trade sanctions
against Pyongyang that it eased after the missile
testing agreement was announced last week during U.S.
- North Korean talks in Berlin.
The United States, along with Japan and South Korea,
had been looking for a way to halt North Korea's
missile program ever since Pyongyang test-launched a
long-range missile over Japan last year. Mr. Clinton
discussed the issue with South Korean President Kim
Dae Jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on
the sidelines of an Asian-Pacific trade summit in
Auckland, New Zealand last week. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/TVM/gm
22-Sep-1999 19:19 PM EDT (22-Sep-1999 2319 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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