DATE=7/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PUTIN / NORTH KOREA - L
NUMBER=2-264604
BYLINE=HYUN SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin is on his way
to Okinawa (has arrived in Okinawa) for a major
international summit, following his unprecedented trip
to North Korea. In Pyongyang Thursday, Mr. Putin
announced that North Korea agreed to halt its missile
program in return for access to space technology.
Hyun-Sung Khang reports from Seoul.
TEXT: Wrapping up his two day visit to Pyongyang - the
first ever by a Kremlin leader - Mr. Putin made a
surprise announcement. He said North Korea is prepared
to exclusively use the missile technology of other
countries, if it is offered rocket boosters for space
research.
President Putin called on other countries, including
South Korea, China, Japan and the United States to
help fund the project. He says North Korea also gave
him an assurance that its missile program was entirely
peaceful.
North Korea's missile program has put the communist
country at odds with much of the international
community. In fact, it is one of main reasons the
United States says it needs a proposed satellite and
radar-controlled missile defense shield. The so-called
National Missile Defense, or NMD, is strongly opposed
by Russia and China, which say it would upset the
strategic balance in the region and spark a new arms
race.
Washington has responded with skepticism to Mr.
Putin's announcement. A State Department spokesman
says the United States needed to see clear evidence
that North Korea is serious about ceasing missile
production.
The issue is certain to be discussed when Mr. Putin
meets with the leaders of industrialized nations at
their annual summit in Japan Friday.
NEB/HK/HSK/JO
20-Jul-2000 05:24 AM EDT (20-Jul-2000 0924 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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