DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246717
TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS AGREED TO ALLOW 
INSPECTION OF A CONTROVERSIAL UNDERGROUND SITE SUSPECTED OF BEING
A NUCLEAR FACILITY.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING 
REPORTS. 

TEXT:   THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE AGREEMENT ANSWERS ALL 
U-S CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUSPECT NORTH KOREAN UNDERGROUND SITE.  A 
JOINT U-S NORTH KOREAN STATEMENT RELEASED IN NEW YORK SAYS THE 
DEAL WILL CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO 
COUNTRIES. 

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, A U-S TEAM IS EXPECTED TO VISIT THE SUSPECT 
SITE IN MAY.  OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO 
INSPECT ANY PART OF THE SITE AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY. 

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THE UNDERGROUND SITE COULD BE 
PART OF A NORTH KOREAN EFFORT TO REVIVE A NUCLEAR PROGRAM THAT 
WAS SUSPENDED UNDER A 1994 AGREEMENT. 

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY DID NOT AGREE TO NORTH KOREAN DEMANDS FOR 
COMPENSATION TO ALLOW THE INSPECTIONS.  BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE 
UNITED STATES HAS AGREED TO TAKE PART IN A JOINT AGRICULTURE 
PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVING POTATO PRODUCTION IN NORTH KOREA. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE TWO NATIONS HAVE 
ALSO AGREED TO RESUME TALKS ON NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAM. 

                        // RUBIN ACT // 

         BROADLY SPEAKING THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PREVENT, NOW THAT 
         WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD ON THE NUCLEAR SIDE IN PREVENTING
         THEM FROM DEVELOPING A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, BUT ALSO TO 
         TURN TO THE MISSILE SIDE OF THE EQUATION, AND GET THEM 
         TO ADVANCE OUR PROLIFERATION GOALS IN THAT AREA. 

                         // END ACT // 

NORTH KOREA HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG AND 
MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES THAT HAVE CAUSED CONCERN IN THE REGION AND 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 

U-S OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO NEGOTIATE LIMITATIONS ON THE NORTH 
KOREAN MISSILE PROGRAM AND GET NORTH KOREA TO AGREE TO PREVENT 
ANY TRANSFER OF ITS MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/LTD/PT

16-Mar-99 3:24 PM EST (2024 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.