DATE=3/1/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NORTH/SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-259704 BYLINE=AMY BICKERS DATELINE=HONG KONG INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: South Korean President Kim Dae Jung is expressing optimism about his "sunshine policy" of engagement and eventual reunification with the North. As Amy Bickers reports from the V-O-A Asia News Center, President Kim Wednesday underscored his long- term goal of reunification on the divided Korean peninsula, during a ceremony to mark Independence Day. TEXT: The South Korean leader used the occasion of Independence Day to redefine his ultimate objective. During a speech, he said he hoped his policy of engaging North Korea would put an end to the lingering tension between the two countries. President Kim Dae-jung told the South Korean people never to abandon the goal of a unified Korea. However, he said Seoul does not now have the economic resources to support uniting with the impoverished North. But the president remains hopeful. He says his so- called Sunshine policy is making progress, and believes it will eventually bring peace to the two states. Asia analyst Ken Davies (prono: Davis) of the Economist Intelligence Unit in Hong Kong, says the Sunshine Policy is the hallmark of Mr. Kim's presidency. /// DAVIES ACT /// He has made it quite plain that whatever his friends and allies think he is determined to make some deal with North Korea and go down in the history as having done that. /// END ACT /// Mr. Kim underscored his hope that his engagement policy would lead to the end of the Cold War structure on the Korean peninsula before his term ends in 2003. As part of his policy, Seoul has sought to expand trade and other exchanges with the North. It has also promised Pyongyang security, economic recovery and access to some international resources. Mr. Davies says that so far North Korea has failed to accept Mr. Kim's approach. /// DAVIES ACT /// Any time they decide they are going to open up small areas to tourism or investment people say how wonderful, but of course it is not really opening up if you compare it to China or Vietnam, and the problem is the political system there. /// END ACT /// Beyond geopolitics and economic issues, President Kim also spoke Wednesday of the psychological challenges facing the people of the two Koreas. He predicted that there will be difficulties in coming to terms with each other after more than half a century of armed confrontation. (SIGNED) NEB/AB/FC 01-Mar-2000 06:17 AM EDT (01-Mar-2000 1117 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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