DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251476
TITLE=KOREA / MISSILE RANGE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEWS MEDIA IN SEOUL SAY SOUTH KOREA HAS PROPOSED THAT IT
BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP MISSILES WITH A LONGER RANGE OF UP TO 500
KILOMETERS AS A DETERRENT AGAINST INVASION BY COMMUNIST NORTH
KOREA. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL.
TEXT: SOUTH KOREA HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR SOME TIME TO ALTER A
20-YEAR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES WHICH RESTRICTS IT TO
PRODUCING MISSILES WITH A MAXIMUM RANGE OF 180 KILOMETERS.
NEWSPAPERS IN SEOUL REPORT PRESIDENT KIM REQUESTED THE 500
KILOMETER RANGE DURING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN
WASHINGTON FRIDAY. THE TWO ALLIES HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DISCUSSING
AN EXTENSION OF THE ALLOWABLE RANGE TO 300 KILOMETERS ONLY.
THE REPORTS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON LISTENED ATTENTIVELY TO
PRESIDENT KIM'S PROPOSAL. BUT ANALYSTS WERE DOUBTFUL WASHINGTON
WILL AGREE, AS IT FEARS THE STEP COULD IGNITE A REGIONAL ARMS
RACE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-S EMBASSY IN SEOUL WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE
MEDIA ACCOUNTS, BUT SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAID THE PROPOSAL WAS
ON THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION WITH WASHINGTON.
PRESIDENT KIM'S REQUEST COMES AMID FEARS PYONGYANG IS ABOUT TO
TEST A LONG-RANGE MISSILE. LAST AUGUST IT SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH
THE REGION WHEN IT TEST-FIRED A MEDIUM-RANGE TAEPODONG MISSILE
OVER JAPANESE TERRITORY.
SECURITY ANALYSTS SAY SOUTH KOREA'S PUSH FOR GREATER MISSILE
RANGE IS MEANT TO SEND AN UNCOMPROMISING MESSAGE TO NORTH KOREA
--AFTER TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS IN BEIJING LAST WEEK FAILED
TO EASE OLD AND NEW TENSIONS ON THE PENINSULA. THEY SAY SEOUL
WANTS TO SHOW PYONGYANG THAT IT IS NOT THE ONLY REGIONAL MILITARY
POWER CAPABLE OF USING MISSILES AS A BARGAINING CHIP.
THE TWO KOREAS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE MOST DIFFERENCES SINCE
THE END OF THE KOREAN WAR IN 1953. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/GC/JO/PLM
06-Jul-99 6:02 AM EDT (1002 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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