DATE=6/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251275
TITLE=NORTH KOREA MISSILE - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS ANOTHER NORTH-KOREAN 
MISSILE TEST COULD HURT RELATIONS BETWEEN PYONGYANG AND 
WASHINGTON.  THE WARNING FROM THE PENTAGON'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR 
ASIAN ISSUES FOLLOWS REPORTS NORTH KOREA IS PREPARING TO TEST A 
NEW MISSILE THAT MIGHT REACH ACROSS OCEANS.  CORRESPONDENT JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT:  DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE KURT CAMPBELL SAYS 
U-S INTELLIGENCE HAS DETECTED SIGNS OF ACTIVITY NEAR NORTH 
KOREA'S MISSILE LAUNCH SITE.

(IN A BREAKFAST MEETING WITH REPORTERS) MR. CAMPBELL SAYS A TEST 
LIKE THE ONE THAT ANGERED NORTH KOREA'S NEIGHBORS LAST AUGUST 
WOULD HAVE -- VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES -- FOR U-S.RELATIONS WITH 
THE RECLUSIVE COMMUNIST NATION. 

NORTH KOREA SHOCKED THE REGION WITH ITS LAST TEST, FIRING A 
THREE-STAGE ROCKET OVER JAPAN AND FAR OUT INTO THE PACIFIC.  
PYONGYANG SAID IT WAS TO PUT A SATELLITE INTO ORBIT, BUT THE 
JAPANESE SAY IT WAS A LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE.

THAT INCIDENT PROMPTED WASHINGTON TO RETHINK ITS POLICIES TOWARD 
NORTH KOREA AND OFFER TO END DECADES OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS 
AGAINST NORTH KOREA IN EXCHANGE FOR ENDING MISSILE DEVELOPMENT.

A TOP PENTAGON OFFICIAL WITH ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION 
TELLS V-O-A A LAUNCH COULD COME IN A FEW MONTHS, BUT IS PROBABLY 
NOT IMMINENT. 

THE UNITED STATES REPORTEDLY MOVED A SPECIALIZED SHIP WITH 
MISSILE TRACKING RADARS AND COMPUTERS CLOSER TO KOREA IN THE PAST
FEW DAYS.  INTELLIGENCE SOURCES WILL  NOT  COMMENT ON THE SHIP'S 
MISSION, BUT SAY WATCHING NORTH-KOREAN WEAPONS AND MISSILE 
PROGRAMS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL U-S SPY AGENCIES.  

TENSIONS ON THE PENINSULA HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED BY RECENT CLASHES 
BETWEEN SOUTH AND NORTH KOREAN PATROL BOATS IN WHICH ONE SMALL 
NORTH KOREAN SHIP WAS SUNK BY GUNFIRE AND SEVERAL OTHERS DAMAGED.
 (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/LTD/RAE

30-Jun-99 2:39 PM EDT (1839 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.