DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245060
TITLE=U-S / KOREA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES IS EXPRESSING RENEWED CONCERN ABOUT 
NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAM.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, 
V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. 

TEXT:  THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SAYS 
HE IS WORRIED NORTH KOREA IS ON THE VERGE OF DEVELOPING MISSILES 
THAT COULD REACH THE CONTINENTAL UNTIED STATES. 

C-I-A DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET HAS TOLD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS (THIS 
WEEK / ON TUESDAY THAT) THE SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA IS BECOMING 
MORE VOLATILE AND UNPREDICTABLE. 

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE NORTH KOREA STILL NEEDS TO 
OVERCOME SOME IMPORTANT TECHNICAL PROBLEMS BEFORE IT DEVELOPS AN 
INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE.  BUT STATE DEPARTMENT 
SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED SUCH A 
ROCKET COULD BE TESTED AS EARLY AS THIS YEAR.  THIS IS A 
DEVELOPMENT, HE SAYS, THAT WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. 

                       /// RUBIN ACT /// 

         WE CONTINUE TO PRESS THE NORTH KOREANS TO CEASE ALL 
         DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND EXPORTING OF MISSILES AND 
         MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, AND HAVE ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT ANY 
         FURTHER TESTS WOULD HAVE SERIOUS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES 
         FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

CONCERNS ABOUT THE MISSILE PROGRAM WERE RAISED IN AUGUST, AFTER 
THE NORTH KOREANS UNEXPECTEDLY TESTED A THREE-STAGE ROCKET.  
U-S OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAUNCH CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD.  THEY
SAY THEY ARE NOW CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE TESTING OF ANOTHER 
LARGER MISSILE, STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT. 

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO  NOT  BELIEVE THERE IS AN 
IMMINENT CRISIS WITH NORTH KOREA.  BUT THEY SAY IT REMAINS A 
VOLATILE AND UNPREDICTABLE ISSUE.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/WDC/WTW

03-Feb-99 4:02 PM EST (2102 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.