DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245044  (CQ)
TITLE=NORTH KOREA TALKS (L)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMPKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  NORTH KOREA HAS PROPOSED DIRECT HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL 
TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREA. THE OFFER WAS MADE WEDNESDAY IN LETTERS 
SENT TO SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG AND OTHER GOVERNMENT 
LEADERS IN SOUTH KOREA.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMPKINS HAS 
MORE ON THE STORY FROM THE V-O-A ASIAN NEWS CENTER IN HONG KONG.

TEXT:  NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WANTS TO HOLD DIRECT POLITICAL TALKS 
WITH SOUTH KOREA DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.  PYONGYANG 
SAYS THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT PREVENTING THE WAR ON THE KOREAN 
PENINSULA AND TO BEGIN A NEW UNIFICATION PROCESS.

PYONGYANG'S OFFER WAS MADE IN LETTERS SENT TO SOUTH KOREAN 
PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG AND SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND POLITICAL LEADERS.

THE PROPOSAL SAYS HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS SHOULD 
BE FOLLOWED BY WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES.

PYONGYANG LAST CALLED FOR POLITICAL TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREA A YEAR
AGO, BUT NORTH KOREA SAYS FOR THE TALKS TO BECOME REALITY, SEOUL 
WILL HAVE TO REPEAL ANTI-COMMUNIST NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS AND 
HALT JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH THE UNITED STATES.

SIMILAR PROPOSALS FROM THE NORTH HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY SEOUL.  
BUT LAST MONTH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM REAFFIRMED HIS SO- 
CALLED SUN-SHINE POLICY WITH NORTH KOREA WHICH AIMS TO GRADUALLY 
OPEN UP THE STALINIST COUNTRY BY INCREASING CULTURAL AND BUSINESS
TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

PRESIDENT KIM HAS ALSO PROPOSED POLITICAL TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA.
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, WHICH ARE TECHNICALLY STILL 
AT WAR, HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE OVER THE LAST YEAR  FOLLOWING 
SEVERAL NORTH KOREAN MILITARY INTRUSIONS INTO SOUTH KOREAN WATERS
AND THE TEST LAUNCH OF A BALLISTIC MISSILE LAST AUGUST, WHICH 
LEAD TO SUSPICIONS THAT NORTH KOREA IS TRYING TO RESTART ITS 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.

SOUTH KOREA'S UNIFICATION MINISTRY SAYS IT WILL ISSUE A FORMAL 
RESPONSE TO PYONGYANG'S OFFER ON HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL TALKS TALKS
THURSDAY.  

NORTH KOREA'S OFFER COMES AS FOUR-PARTY PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE 
TWO KOREAS, CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO DRAG ON WITH 
LITTLE PROGRESS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/CS/KL       

03-Feb-99 4:04 PM EST (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.