DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246445
TITLE=PERRY / JAPAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  WASHINGTON'S POLICY COORDINATOR ON NORTH KOREA, WILLIAM 
PERRY,  MET WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI AND OTHER 
TOP JAPANESE LEADERS WEDNESDAY.  JOCELYN FORD REPORTS FROM TOKYO,
MR. PERRY IS IN JAPAN TO SHARE HIS PROPOSAL FOR A NEW APPROACH TO
NORTH KOREA AND TO GET FEED BACK.

TEXT:  THE U-S COORDINATOR ON NORTH KOREA, WILLIAM PERRY, WON 
SUPPORT FROM JAPANESE LEADERS WEDNESDAY FOR A SET OF POLICY 
PROPOSALS HE INTENDS TO PRESENT TO PRESIDENT  CLINTON LATER THIS 
MONTH.  JAPANESE LEADERS SAID THEY WERE ASKED NOT TO RELEASE 
DETAILS OF THE NEW POLICY, BUT THEY SAID IT REFLECTS THEIR 
CONCERNS.  

MR. PERRY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI 
AND OTHER JAPANESE LEADERS HE MET AGREE ON THE NEED TO STAND 
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER IN COUNTERING THE THREATS POSED BY NORTH 
KOREA.    

ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, MR. PERRY PLANS TO RECOMMEND A CARROT-
AND-STICK APPROACH TOWARD PYONGYANG.    IF NORTH KOREA ADDRESSES 
INTERNATIONAL WORRIES OVER ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE CAPABILITIES, 
THEN THE UNITED STATES WILL REPORTEDLY RELAX ITS TRADE EMBARGO.  
BUT IF PYONGYANG REJECTS THE OLIVE BRANCH, THE REPORTS SAY 
WASHINGTON WILL TAKE A HARDLINE POSITION AND ISOLATE  NORTH 
KOREA. 

TOKYO'S CONCERN ABOUT NEIGHBORING NORTH KOREA WAS HEIGHTENED LAST
SUMMER, WHEN PYONGYANG LAUNCHED A ROCKET THAT FLEW OVER NORTHERN 
JAPAN.    SINCE THEN, JAPAN HAS SAID IT WILL NOT RESUME FOOD AID 
TO NORTH KOREA UNLESS PYONGYANG ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER ITS 
MISSILE PROGRAM AND A SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY.  
NORTH KOREA MAINTAINS THE FACILITY IS NOT A MILITARY 
INSTALLATION.

MR. PERRY'S VISIT COMES AS JAPAN IS ADOPTING ITS OWN 
REWARD-OR-PUNISHMENT APPROACH TO NORTH KOREA.  TOKYO HAS MADE 
OVERTURES TO PYONGYANG, SUGGESTING CLOSER CONTACTS.    AT THE 
SAME TIME, JAPAN HAS ASSERTED IT HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE A 
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE TO AVERT A NORTH KOREAN MISSILE ATTACK.  

JAPAN WAS THE LAST STOP ON MR. PERRY'S TOUR.  HE ARRIVED TUESDAY 
NIGHT FROM SEOUL, WHERE HE AND PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG AGREED THAT
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TOWARD PYONGYANG IS NECESSARY.  SEOUL 
HAS BEEN CONCERNED THAT WASHINGTON MIGHT DISRUPT ITS POLICY OF 
ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA,  IF A HARDLINE OPTION IS ADOPTED.  
MR PERRY HAS ALSO CONSULTED, DURING THIS TRIP, WITH LEADERS IN 
CHINA AND TAIWAN.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/FC 

10-Mar-99 6:29 AM EST (1129 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.