DATE=1/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244353
TITLE=KOREA TALKS
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A NEW ROUND OF FOUR-PARTY TALKS AIMED AT ACHIEVING A 
PERMANENT PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA HAS BEGUN AMIDST FEARS A 
1994 NUCLEAR-ARMS-CONTROL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
NORTH KOREA MAY BE UNRAVELING.  LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE 
HEADS OF THE FOUR DELEGATIONS HAD LITTLE TO SAY AS THEY ENTERED 
THE TALKS.  

TEXT:  AS THE DELEGATES ARRIVED AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER, THE 
SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TOLD JOURNALISTS THE NEGOTIATORS WOULD DO
THEIR BEST.  HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART SAID HIS DELEGATION WOULD 
PUT FORWARD ITS OWN PROPOSALS, WHILE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE 
VIEWS OF THE OTHER NEGOTIATORS.  

THE U-S AND NORTH KOREANS MAINTAINED A STONY SILENCE, WHICH 
PUNCTUATED THE STRAINED ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THEM.  PRECEDING THE 
START OF THIS ROUND, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN PYONGYANG CHARGED 
THAT THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA WERE INTENT ON DESTROYING 
NORTH KOREA. 

BEFORE THE CLOSED-DOOR NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN, THE SWISS AMBASSADOR, 
CHARLES DUNAND, WELCOMED THE DELEGATIONS AND WISHED THEM WELL.

                       /// DUNAND ACT ///

         WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME AS MUCH AS 
         POSSIBLE AND WE INTEND TO DO THE SAME IN THE FUTURE.  
         INDEED, INTERNATIONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR TANGIBLE PROGRESS
         IN YOUR TALKS ARE HIGH.  MY COUNTRY IS CONVINCED THAT 
         SUCH PROGRESS IS POSSIBLE IN THIS FORUM. 

                         /// END ACT ///

THIS IS THE FOURTH ROUND OF FOUR-PARTY TALKS AND THE FIRST 
CHAIRED BY THE NORTH KOREAN DELEGATION, A PROSPECT WHICH ONE U-S 
OFFICIAL SAID COULD PROVE -- INTERESTING.  THE TALKS, WHICH BEGAN
13-MONTHS AGO, AIM TO REPLACE THE FRAYING ARMISTICE THAT ENDED 
THE KOREAN WAR IN 1953 WITH A PERMANENT PEACE.  

BUT, EXPECTATIONS FOR ACHIEVING THAT GOAL ARE VERY LOW.  U-S AND 
NORTH KOREAN TENSIONS HAVE BEEN MOUNTING SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN 
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SPOTTED AN UNDERGROUND SITE WHICH 
THEY SUSPECT MAY BE USED FOR MAKING NUCLEAR BOMBS.  AND IN 
AUGUST, NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED A LONG-RANGE MISSILE THAT FLEW OVER 
JAPAN.

WASHINGTON SAYS NORTH KOREA IS IN VIOLATION OF A 1994 BI-LATERAL 
AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH PYONGYANG FROZE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN 
RETURN FOR HUGE FINANCIAL BENEFITS.

IN AN EFFORT TO OVERCOME THE TENSIONS, THE DELEGATIONS HAVE 
FORMED TWO SUBCOMMITTEES INTENDED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AMONG THE 
PARTIES.  ONE WILL DISCUSS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PEACE REGIME ON
THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND THE OTHER WILL DEAL WITH REDUCING 
TENSIONS THERE.  THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO END FRIDAY.   (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/RAE/GE

19-Jan-99 9:48 AM EST (1448 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.