DATE=1/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244554
TITLE=NORTH KOREA TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  FOUR PARTY TALKS AIMED AT CREATING A LASTING PEACE ON THE
KOREAN PENINSULA HAVE WRAPPED UP WITH LITTLE SIGN THAT PROGRESS 
TOWARD THAT GOAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.   LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS
NEGOTIATORS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, CHINA AND THE UNITED 
STATES HAVE AGREED TO TRY AGAIN IN APRIL.

TEXT:  THIS LATEST ROUND OF TALKS HAS BEEN MARKED BY STONY 
SILENCE FROM WITHIN AND A LOT OF BLUSTER FROM WITHOUT.  THE FOUR 
PARTIES NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND RARELY COMMENTED 
PUBLICLY.  HOWEVER, NORTH KOREA KEPT THE HEAT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS
BY ISSUING THREATENING STATEMENTS FROM PYONGYANG WHILE 
DISCUSSIONS WERE GOING ON IN GENEVA.

DURING THE WEEK, PYONGYANG CHARGED THE AMERICANS HAD ABDUCTED A 
NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT WHO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE DEFECTED TO THE 
UNITED STATES.  IT WARNED THIS INCIDENT THREATENED TO BREAK UP 
THE TALKS.  PYONGYANG'S LATEST SALVO CAME AS THE TALKS WRAPPED UP
HERE.  NORTH KOREA ACCUSED THE U-S  OF PUSHING THE KOREAN 
PENINSULA TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR.

IN CONTRAST TO THESE DECLARATIONS, THE FOUR PARTY NEGOTIATORS 
ISSUED A TERSE, POLITE STATEMENT CALLING THE DISCUSSIONS USEFUL 
AND PRODUCTIVE.  AND, SAYING ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS WOULD BE HELD
IN GENEVA IN APRIL.

THE PARTIES HAVE HELD FOUR ROUNDS OF TALKS SINCE THEIR FIRST 
HISTORIC MEETING 13 MONTHS AGO.  THEY AIM TO REPLACE THE FRAYING 
ARMISTICE THAT ENDED THE KOREAN WAR IN 1953 WITH A PERMANENT 
PEACE.  OBSERVERS EXPECT THESE DISCUSSIONS TO GO ON FOR YEARS.

AT THIS ROUND, THE NEGOTIATORS FORMED TWO SUB-COMMITTEES TO 
DISCUSS HOW TO REDUCE TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA AND TO PUT
IN PLACE A PERMANENT PEACE.

THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY A DISPUTE BETWEEN 
PYONGYANG AND WASHINGTON OVER A SUSPECTED NUCLEAR SITE IN NORTH 
KOREA.  BILATERAL TALKS LAST WEEKEND FAILED TO RESOLVE THIS 
ISSUE.  THE TWO SIDES ARE MEETING AGAIN THIS WEEKEND IN ANOTHER 
ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE IMPASSE.  THE AMERICANS, ONCE AGAIN, WILL 
DEMAND THAT THEY BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE UNDERGROUND SITE TO SEE 
IF NORTH KOREA IS REVIVING ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/PLM

 

23-Jan-99 5:54 AM EST (1054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America