DATE=8/23/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=JAPAN - S. KOREA TALKS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-253026 BYLINE=TANYA CLARK DATELINE=TOKYO INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hong Soon-Young, is in Tokyo as part of a three- pronged diplomatic effort to stave off the threat of a second ballistic missile test by North Korea. Tanya Clark reports from the Japanese capital. TEXT: Japan and South Korean officials appear to be moving toward a more coordinated diplomatic effort to counter the threat of North Korea's ballistic missile program. South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hong Soon-Young, is in Tokyo until Tuesday evening to discuss the North Korean situation with Japanese government officials, including Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. At the same time South Korea has sent out emissaries to China and the United States, in an attempt to reach a consensus on how to stop North Korea from firing a new, more powerful ballistic missile. South Korea's defense minister, Cho Sung-Tae, is currently meeting with his counterparts in Beijing and South Korean Unification Minister, Lim Dong-won, left Seoul Monday for meetings with officials in the United States. A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman says at Monday's meeting between Mr. Hong and Japan's Foreign Minister, Masahiko Komura, both officials agreed it is hard to predict North Korea's future action. But the spokesman says they welcomed what they see as signs from North Korea that dialogue is possible. Relations between the Stalinist state and Japan, South Korea and the United States have been deeply strained since North Korea launched a ballistic missile one year ago. The missile flew across Japan, before landing in the sea. The test stunned Japan and stirred fears North Korea could launch more. Signs that North Korea does indeed plan to launch another missile, this one more advanced than the last, have intensified diplomatic efforts. The Taepodong II, as the latest ballistic missile is named, could have the range to reach as far as Alaska and Hawaii. The South Korean and Japanese officials also discussed Japan's support for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization --KEDO. KEDO was created to provide North Korea with an alternative power sources so that it would cut back development of its own nuclear energy program. It was feared Pyongyang was using the program to develop nuclear weapons. After last year's missile test, Japan froze its one billion dollar contribution to the four point six billion dollar KEDO program. According to a Japanese spokesman, South Korea's Foreign Minster Hong asked Japan to continue a strong interest in KEDO. The official says Japan's Foreign Minister Komura responded that he would do so. NEB/TC/GC/FC/PLM 23-Aug-1999 06:47 AM EDT (23-Aug-1999 1047 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .