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DATE=12/15/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / NUCEAR (LONG)
NUMBER=2-257167
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Officials from the United States, Japan, South 
Korea and the European Union signed a landmark deal 
Wednesday in Seoul, to build two non-weapons nuclear 
reactors in North Korea. As Amy Bickers reports from 
the V-O-A Asia News Center, the reactors are part of a 
1994 agreement under which North Korea halted its 
suspect nuclear program.
TEXT:  Wednesday's long-awaited agreement on the 
construction of two light-water reactors is viewed as 
an important step towards curbing North Korea's 
nuclear threat. 
The four-point-six billion dollar project will replace 
two Soviet-designed plants which experts say can 
produce plutonium for use in atomic bombs. The new 
reactors will be built in the rural village of Kumho 
in the country's northeastern region.
Eom Seock Jeong, (prono: Ohm Sook-Jhong) a South 
Korean official who advises Seoul on nuclear reactors, 
says the project will achieve the goal of providing 
North Korea with safe electrical power.
            /// EOM ACT /// 
They need the electricity. They are short of 
electricity and will use it for industrial purposes. 
            /// END ACT ///
South Korea will be the largest financial contributor 
as part of KEDO -- the Korean Peninsula Energy 
Development Organization. The consortium also includes 
the United States, Japan and the European Union. 
Washington has also agreed to ship heavy fuel oil to 
North Korea until the first reactor is completed.   
The project was postponed last year when North Korea 
test-fired a missile over Japan. Since then, Pyongyang 
agreed to stop testing missiles in exchange for the 
relaxation of sanctions. The signing of the agreement 
was also delayed because of negotiations over cost-
sharing among consortium members. 
Mr. Eom says the undertaking will have effects beyond 
generating electrical power. 
            /// EOM ACT ///
From now on, I think more and more South Korean 
(construction) workers will go to North Korea to work 
there, and the materials will be shipped to the site 
and it means that between North and South Korea 
economic cooperation will be done on a greater scale.
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Eom says the first reactor could be built by 2007, 
with the second one completed in the following year.  
The consortium will continue to negotiate with 
Pyongyang about the construction schedule and the 
reactors' safety and performance. (SIGNED)
NEB/AB/FC 
15-Dec-1999 04:37 AM EDT (15-Dec-1999 0937 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.