DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249741
TITLE=PERRY / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:   BEGINNING TODAY (TUESDAY), SPECIAL WHITE HOUSE ENVOY 
WILLIAM PERRY  IS IN NORTH KOREA FOR A FOUR-DAY VISIT AIMED AT 
IMPROVING TIES WITH  PYONGYANG'S LEADERSHIP.  ON MONDAY, THE 
SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED  NATIONS TOLD REPORTERS MR.
PERRY'S TRIP IS BEING WATCHED WITH CAUTIOUS  OPTIMISM IN SOUTH 
KOREA.  

TEXT:  AMBASSADOR SEE-YOUNG LEE SAYS FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY 
PERRY AND HIS  SEVEN-MEMBER DELEGATION -- THE HIGHEST-LEVEL 
DELEGATION TO VISIT NORTH KOREA  IN HALF A CENTURY -- IS CARRYING
WHAT HE CALLED A "PACKAGE DEAL" TO PRESENT  TO THE NORTH KOREAN 
LEADER, KIM JONG IL.    

HE SAYS THE PACKAGE -- HAMMERED OUT IN WASHINGTON AFTER CLOSE 
CONSULATATIONS  WITH LEADERS IN SEOUL AND TOKYO --  CONTAINS 
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL  INCENTIVES, POSSIBLY EVEN AN OFFER TO 
EASE SANCTIONS.   IN RETURN, MR.  PERRY'S TEAM WILL ASK FOR  A 
FULL DISCLOSURE AND REDUCTION OF NORTH KOREA'S  NUCLEAR AND 
LONG-RANGE MISSILE PROGRAMS.  

                      // FIRST LEE ACT //  

 OUR JOINT EFFORTS ARE NOW AT A CRITICAL STAGE.  WE BELIEVE THE 
PACKAGE DEAL  PRESENTS THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME WITH ITS BEST 
CHANCE FOR THEIR SURVIVAL, BUT  IT  MAY BE THEIR LAST CHANCE AS 
WELL.  

                         // END ACT //  

AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS THE U-S ATTEMPT AT DIPLOMACY WITH PYONGYANG 
IS IN LINE  WITH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG'S SO-CALLED 
"SUNSHINE POLICY" OF   ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA.  

SOME SOUTH KOREAN COMPANIES ARE NOW ALLOWED TO DIRECTLY INVEST IN
PARTS OF  NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS ARE TRICKLING IN 
FOR BRIEF VISITS.  

BUT AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NORTH HAS NOT ALWAYS 
YIELDED  POSITIVE RESULTS.  

NORTH KOREA CONTINUES TO ADHERE TO ITS ANTI-WESTERN PROPAGANDA 
AND LAST  AUGUST, IT TEST-FIRED A LONG-RANGE MISSILE OVER JAPAN, 
RAISING CONSIDERABLE  ALARM IN ASIA AND IN THE UNITED STATES.  

                     // SECOND LEE ACT //  

 ALL OF THIS INDICATES THAT THE NORTH KOREAN LEADERSHIP DOES NOT 
YET TRUST THE  NEW APPROACH OF THE SOUTH, PERCEIVING OUR 
ENGAGEMENT POLICY AS A SORT OF A  CONSPIRACY TO ACCELERATE  
TRANSITION AND EVENTUALLY ITS COLLAPSE.  

                         // END ACT //  

AMBASSADOR LEE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE MISTRUST,  MR. PERRY'S MISSION
IS FRAUGHT  WITH DANGER.  

BUT HE SAYS HE HOPES NORTH KOREA -- NOW ONE OF THE UNITED STATES'
BIGGEST  RECIPIENTS IN FOOD AID  -- WILL SEE THAT ITS SURVIVAL 
DEPENDS ON COOPERATION  WITH WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)

NEB/AR/PLM

24-May-99 11:30 PM EDT (0330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.