DATE=7/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COHEN-JAPAN-KOREA (L-ONLY) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-252170
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Defense Secretary William Cohen says even  
with spy satellites and other resources to help,  the 
United States can  not  tell when, or if,  North Korea 
will test launch a new ballistic  missile.  But Mr. 
Cohen says the United States  and North Korea's 
neighbors are all urging  Pyongyang  not  to light the 
fuse.  The defense secretary spoke on a flight to 
Tokyo where he is  set to hold talks with Japanese 
leaders about  North Korea's missiles, Taiwan's 
possible drive  for independence and other issues.  V-
O-A's Jim  Randle reports.

TEXT:  Western journalists, quoting intelligence 
sources, have been saying for weeks that North  Korea 
was making preparations to test launch a   missile 
that might be powerful enough to strike  anywhere in 
Japan, or cross much of the Pacific  and hit American 
soil in Alaska or Hawaii.  

U-S officials have said U-S warships and research  
vessels equipped with powerful radar and special  
computers were steaming within reach of Korea,  though 
they won't confirm speculation they are  part of an 
intelligence team watching for a  possible missile 
firing.

            ///  COHEN ACT ///

      I don't think we can project in terms of what 
      will take place.  We follow very closely and we 
      have communicated and  continue to communicate 
      to North Korea along with our South Korean 
      friends and Japanese that it would have serious 
      implications if they were to have another 
      launch.

            /// END ACT ///

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo could cut aid to  
Pyongyang, or stop construction of nuclear power  
plants that are designed to produce electricity  in 
North Korea.  

Concerns about North Korea's missile program have  
already prompted Tokyo to join U-S efforts to  develop 
defenses against ballistic missiles.  And  South 
Korean officials are talking about  developing 
improved ballistic missiles of  their own, capable of 
reaching more targets in  North Korea.

            /// COHEN ACT  ///

      One of the most important things we can do is to 
      continue to coordinate our policies so that we 
      have solidarity of our policy toward North 
      Korea.  We don't want to have any kind of a gap 
      that could be exploited.

            ///  END ACT ///

Mr. Cohen is set to meet with Japan's prime  minister 
and defense minister (Wednesday) and  hold talks with 
top officials in South Korea  later in the week.  
These are the first stops on  a diplomatic trip that 
will also take him to  Ukraine and Georgia for talks 
on military issues.  (Signed)

NEB/JR/JO/KL




26-Jul-1999 17:14 PM LOC (26-Jul-1999 2114 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.