DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249742
TITLE=JAPAN / PERRY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO: U-S  PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY WILLIAM PERRY GOES TO NORTH KOREA 
TUESDAY,  HEADING THE HIGHEST U-S DELEGATION TO VISIT THE 
STALINIST STATE SINCE THE KOREAN WAR.  JOCELYN FORD REPORTS FROM 
TOKYO, MR. PERRY IS CARRYING PROPOSALS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON TO 
EASE TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

TEXT:  U-S PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY WILLIAM PERRY IS VISITING PYONGYANG
AS PART OF WASHINGTON'S REVIEW OF ITS POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA. 
 HE IS ALSO BRINGING WITH HIM A JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE UNITED 
STATES, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, AS WELL AS A SEPARATE 
COMMUNICATION FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON.     MR. PERRY MET IN TOKYO 
ON MONDAY WITH SENIOR SOUTH KOREAN AND JAPANESE OFFICIALS, AND 
THE NATIONS AGREED THEY SHOULD TAKE A COORDINATED APPROACH TOWARD
PYONGYANG.     

THE THREE PARTIES DID NOT SAY WHAT THEY PLAN TO CONVEY TO NORTH 
KOREA.  BUT LAST WEEK SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER HONG 
SOON-YOUNG SAID MR. PERRY WOULD BRING A PACKAGE OF ECONOMIC AND 
POLITICAL INCENTIVES TO PYONGYANG AND THAT THE VISIT COULD TURN 
OUT TO BE A MILESTONE.      

IN 1994,  PYONGYANG AGREED TO FREEZE ITS SUSPECT NUCLEAR PROGRAM 
IN RETURN FOR A PROMISE FROM  SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, THE UNITED 
STATES AND OTHERS  TO SUPPLY THE NORTH WITH FUEL OIL AND HELP 
BUILD TWO SAFE NUCLEAR REACTORS IN NORTH KOREA. BUT THAT 
AGREEMENT HAS NOT GONE SMOOTHLY.     

AMONG THE KEY CONCERNS IS POSSIBLE WORK AT AN UNDERGROUND NORTH 
KOREAN FACILITY THAT U-S  OFFICIALS FEAR MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO 
BUILD AND HOUSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  MR. PERRY'S  VISIT COMES LESS 
THAN 24 HOURS AFTER A TEAM OF U-S EXPERTS COMPLETED A 
LONG-AWAITED INSPECTION OF THE  FACILITY .  ANOTHER WORRY IS 
NORTH KOREA'S DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-STAGE ROCKET WHICH WAS 
LAUNCHED LAST SUMMER AND FLEW OVER JAPAN. 

IT IS NOT NOT KNOWN  WHOM MR. PERRY WILL MEET WITH DURING HIS 
VISIT TO PYONGYANG.   WASHINGTON  IS HOPEFUL THAT HE WILL  MEET 
WITH NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-IL.    

MR. PERRY WILL TRAVEL TO SEOUL ON SATURDAY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF 
CONSULTATIONS WITH JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS.  HE IS TO
MAKE HIS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON, AT THE END 
OF JUNE. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/GC/PLM    

25-May-99 5:01 AM EDT (0901 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.