DATE=9/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/JAPAN/NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY) CQ
NUMBER=2-266372
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-RUNNING TO CORRECT -- PLEASE DELETE THE
PARAGRAPH FOLLOWING THE TORASHIMA ACTUALITY; ALSO
DELETE THE ALBRIGHT ACTUALITY///
INTRO: Top U-S and Japanese officials met in New York
Monday to discuss strategy toward North Korea. Both
countries are seeking more details of a reported North
Korean proposal to swap its missile development
program in exchange for peaceful space technology. VOA
Correspondent Nick Simeone reports, Washington and
Tokyo say much about the apparent offer remains a
mystery.
TEXT: Japan and the United States signed a new
agreement Monday covering the financial terms of the
U-S military presence on Japanese soil. But most of
the attention of officials from the two countries was
focused on the Korean peninsula.
It has been several months since North Korea suggested
to Russia it would be willing to end its missile
program if other countries would provide Pyongyang
with peaceful space technology. The United States and
Japan have both sought clarification, but neither
country is certain yet of what to make of the North
Korean offer.
After signing the defense agreement with the United
States Monday, Japanese Defense Minister Kazuo
Torashima told reporters through a translator, that
despite the possible offer -- and Pyongyang's gradual
emergence from isolation -- Tokyo continues to view
North Korea as a threat. It was only two years ago
that the North shocked Japan by test firing a
ballistic missile over the country.
// TORASHIMA TRANSLATOR ACT //
Unfortunately, however, North Korea still . . .
most likely (has) deployed Nodong (ballistic
missiles) which virtually covers all Japanese
territory and we do not really see any change as
of this moment in the military situation on the
Korean peninsula.
// END ACT //
At the same news conference, U-S Defense Secretary
William Cohen told reporters that despite some
positive developments, it is still too early to draw
conclusions about North Korea's intentions toward the
South.
// COHEN ACT //
These are just first steps and we need to see
much more in the way of a substantive commitment
to having a peaceful relationship with the South
and to see whether the North Korean government
is willing to become fully integrated in the
international community.
// END ACT //
In the past year, the United States has eased
longstanding sanctions against the North after
Pyongyang agreed to stop testing ballistic missiles.
Relations have begun to warm. And South Korean
President Kim Dae Jung says that after years of
demanding a pull-out of U-S troops from the Korean
peninsula, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il would now
like to see American troops remain on the peninsula,
as a stabilizing presence. A U-S official called that
good news, since Washington wants the troops to
remain, too. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/FC
11-Sep-2000 19:36 PM EDT (11-Sep-2000 2336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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