DATE=12/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / ESPIONAGE CHARGES (L)
NUMBER=2-257588
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: North Korea says it has detained a Japanese
man on charges of espionage. As Amy Bickers reports
from the VOA Asia News Center, Pyongyang accuses the
man of gathering military and diplomatic secrets.
TEXT: North Korean's state-run Korean Central News
Agency says Takashi Sugishima, a 60-year old Japanese
market researcher, has been charged with conducting
activities that violate North Korean law. The news
agency says Mr. Sugishima arrived in North Korea in
late November as part of a Japanese trade mission and
was apprehended by local officials on December 4th.
He has been charged with collecting secret data on
North Korea on behalf of Japanese and South Korean
intelligence authorities. The K-C-N-A quotes Mr.
Sugishima as admitting that South Korean and Japanese
agencies provided him with funds and that he used a
portable recorder, camera and spying devices.
A spokesman at Seoul's main government intelligence
agency has denied links to Mr. Sugishima. Japan's
foreign ministry says it is investigating the report.
The news comes as Japan is preparing to resume talks
on establishing full diplomatic ties with North Korea.
No date has been set for the meeting, which is
expected to take place in Beijing.
Analysts say North Korea's move could effect efforts
to normalize ties between the two countries. Some say
the arrest could be a way to try to win concessions
from Tokyo. The analysts note Pyongyang has used
similar tactics in advance of previous negotiations
with capitalist neighbors.
While Japan has lifted sanctions against North Korea,
it says the resumption of food aid rests on the
progress of the normalization talks. (SIGNED)
NEB/AB/FC/KL
29-Dec-1999 06:12 AM EDT (29-Dec-1999 1112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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