DATE=1/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244344
TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  NORTH KOREA HAS CRITICIZED (TUESDAY) U-S DEFENSE 
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN'S VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN LAST 
WEEK, DESCRIBING IT AS "RECKLESS."   THE CRITICISM COMES AS TALKS
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA GET UNDERWAY IN GENEVA.
THE UNITED STATES IS HOPING TO NEGOTIATE ACCESS TO NORTH KOREA'S 
SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY.  JOCELYN FORD HAS MORE 
FROM TOKYO.

TEXT:  A  KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY REPORT MONITORED IN TOKYO 
SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN'S TRIP TO JAPAN AND SOUTH 
KOREA WAS AIMED AT ISOLATING PYONGYANG AND STIFLING NORTH KOREA 
MILITARILY.

THE DISPATCH, BY NORTH KOREA'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY, WARNS WHAT 
IT CALLS "U-S HAWKS" AGAINST KINDLING A NUCLEAR WAR ON THE KOREAN
PENINSULA.  

IN CONTRAST TO THE SHARP TONE FROM PYONGYANG, JAPAN'S FOREIGN 
MINISTER EXTENDED AN OLIVE BRANCH TO NORTH KOREA ON TUESDAY. IN A
SPEECH AT THE OPENING SESSION OF PARLIAMENT, FOREIGN MINISTER 
MASAHIKO KOMURA SAID JAPAN WANTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH NORTH 
KOREA BY REOPENING A DIALOGUE.



                            //KOMURA ACT (JAPANESE)//

MR. KOMURA ADDED A CONDITION: NORTH KOREA SHOULD DEMONSTRATE WHAT
HE TERMED A CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE ON A HOST OF MILITARY ISSUES, 
INCLUDING INSPECTIONS OF ITS SUSPECTED NUCLEAR FACILITIES.  

JAPAN AND NORTH KOREA DO  NOT  HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND 
TOKYO CUT OFF CONTACT AFTER NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED A MISSILE OVER 
JAPAN LAST AUGUST.

TERUO KOMAKI, IS AN EXPERT ON NORTH KOREA AT THE INSTITUTE OF 
DEVELOPING ECONOMIES IN TOKYO.  

                           // OPT // 

HE SAYS FOREIGN MINISTER KOMURA'S OVERTURE IS AN ATTEMPT TO 
INFLUENCE JAPANESE PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF PARTICIPATION IN 
THE 1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK.  UNDER THAT ACCORD, PYONGYANG AGREED 
TO FREEZE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO MODERN NUCLEAR
REACTORS AND FUEL OIL DELIVERIES.

                                     //KOMAKI ACT (JAPANESE)//

MR. KOMAKI SAYS JAPAN IS UNDER PRESSURE TO RESUME PAYMENTS FOR 
ITS SHARE OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, WHICH ARE JOINTLY PLANNED 
WITH THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA.  JAPAN SUSPENDED ITS 
CONTRIBUTIONS, EXPECTED TO TOTAL ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS, AFTER
THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH LAST AUGUST.

                          // END OPT //

MR. KOMAKI SAYS HE IS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PROGRESS AT THE LATEST
ROUND OF FOUR-WAY TALKS IN GENEVA, WHERE WASHINGTON  IS TRYING TO
GET ACCESS TO NORTH KOREA'S SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR 
FACILITY.

HE SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS MANY UNDERGROUND MILITARY FACILITIES AND 
IT FEARS IF IT ALLOWS INSPECTION OF ONE IT WILL OPEN UP FURTHER 
U-S DEMANDS. // OPT //  HE ADDS THE U-S ATTACK ON IRAQI MILITARY 
TARGETS HAS MADE NORTH KOREA EVEN MORE RELUCTANT TO ALLOW 
UNCONDITIONAL INSPECTIONS. // END OPT // (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/FC/JO



19-Jan-99 4:10 AM EST (0910 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.