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SLUG: 2-300025 Bush / N. Korea (S)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=2/25/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=BUSH / NORTH KOREA (S) NUMBER=2-300025 BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= ///EDITORS: WATCH FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES AFTER 12:15PM WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING//// INTRO: The White House says North Korea's decision to test a short-range missile just hours before the inauguration of the new South Korean president is part of a pattern of odd behavior by Pyongyang. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports. TEXT: White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer says actions like this show why North Korea is so isolated. He says most nations send flowers to inaugurations, rather than testing a surface-to-ship missile in nearby waters. Mr. Fleischer went on to stress, however, that the White House is not making light of the matter, adding it is part of an odd pattern of behavior by the North Koreans. The White House Spokesman said Pyongyang does things like this as a bargaining chip, to get attention and win concessions. He said the North Koreans must learn there are no rewards for bad behavior. First word that North Korea fired the missile into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan came from South Korean officials. There has been no confirmation from Pyongyang. (signed) NEB/PW/KBK/FC |
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