DATE=3/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246749
TITLE=KOREA TALKS / REACT (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  NORTH KOREA SAYS IT IS HAPPY WITH AN AGREEMENT IT REACHED
WITH THE UNITED STATES TUESDAY, ALLOWING U-S INSPECTIONS OF AN 
ALLEGED NUCLEAR SITE NEAR THE NORTH KOREAN CAPITAL, PYONGYANG.  
NORTH KOREA'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SPOKE TO REPORTERS IN NEW YORK 
AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE TALKS, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT 
MAX RUSTON.

TEXT:  NORTH KOREAN VICE FOREIGN MINISTER KIM GYE-GWAN SAYS HE IS
VERY HAPPY WITH THE AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS REACHED AFTER TWO WEEKS 
OF TALKS IN NEW YORK.  HE DENIES THE KUMCHANG-RI UNDERGROUND SITE
IN NORTH KOREA HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES, BUT 
SAYS IT DOES SERVE WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A SENSITIVE, 
NATIONAL-SECURITY PURPOSE.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, U-S OFFICIALS WILL BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE 
SITE STARTING IN MAY.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT THE 
AGREEMENT PROVIDES THEM WITH ENOUGH ACCESS AND FREEDOM OF 
MOVEMENT AT THE SITE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS OR COULD BE USED 
FOR NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES.

THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES ACTIVITIES AT THE SITE COULD VIOLATE A
1994 PACT CALLED THE AGREED FRAMEWORK, UNDER WHICH NORTH KOREA 
AGREED TO SUSPEND ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR MILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS IN ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

U-S SPECIAL ENVOY CHARLES KARTMAN LED WASHINGTON'S DELEGATION TO 
THE TALKS.

                       /// KARTMAN ACT ///

         THE DISCUSSIONS HAD, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IDENTIFIED
         THAT THE AGREED FRAMEWORK COMMITS BOTH SIDES TO IMPROVED
         RELATIONS.  BUT THE SUSPICIONS THAT WERE HELD ABOUT THIS
         SITE AT KUMCHANG-RI WERE PROVING TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO 
         THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION, AND SO REMOVING THAT OBSTACLE
         MEANT THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE RESUMING PROGRESS 
         AS ENVISIONED BY THE AGREED FRAMEWORK.  SO WE BEGAN TO 
         DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A JOINT BILATERAL PROGRAM IN 
         THE AGRICULTURAL AREA, SPECIFICALLY INVOLVING POTATO 
         PRODUCTION, GIVEN THAT THE FOOD SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA
         REMAINS QUITE DIRE.

                         /// END ACT ///

IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING NORTH KOREA WITH AGRICULTURAL 
DEVELOPMENT, THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT HAS DECIDED TO TAKE A STEP
TO IMPROVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO 
COUNTRIES.  NORTH KOREA HAS LONG SOUGHT FORMAL RELATIONS WITH THE
UNITED STATES.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY PROGRESS IN THAT DIRECTION STILL DEPENDS ON 
NORTH KOREAN IMPROVEMENT IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING STEPS TO
CURB TERRORISM, AN END TO MISSILE SALES AND THE EASING OF TENSION
ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.   (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW

17-Mar-99 7:16 AM EST (1216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.