Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/23/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ALBRIGHT/ NORTH KOREA WRAP-L

NUMBER=2-268318

BYLINE=KYLE KING

DATELINE=PYONGYANG

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: U-S officials say Secretary of State Albright will have to make progress in her talks with North Korea's leader if President Clinton is to visit the country later this year. The secretary and the North Korean leader held more than three-hours of talks as Ms. Albright began the highest-level visit ever by a U-S official. V-O-A's Kyle King has this report from Pyongyang.

TEXT: Secretary of State Albright had a full schedule of meetings on her agenda. But, that all changed when North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said he was ready to sit down and discuss U-S concerns.

U-S officials declined to provide details of the three-hour session. But, North Korea's ballistic missile program and the subject of terrorism has long topped the U-S list.

Officials describe the talks as useful and substantive. They say another round of discussion with the North Korean leader is expected Tuesday.

In addition to U-S concerns, Ms. Albright is also using her visit to explore the possibility of a trip by President Clinton later this year. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher indicated U-S concerns will have to be addressed before that can happen.

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Being able to deal successfully with these issues is key to having a successful visit by the President.

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The State Department spokesman also revealed Secretary of State Albright delivered a letter from President Clinton to the North Korean leader. The letter outlined Mr. Clinton's ideas on how to further improve ties between the two countries, which have a long history of strained relations dating back to the Korean War.

Since the historic summit between the North and South Korean leaders in June, Pyongyang has quickly moved to end more than a half century of isolation. Earlier this month Germany and Britain said they plan to establish diplomatic relations. (SIGNED)

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