DATE=9/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/NORTH KOREA (L)
NUMBER=2-254028
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The United States has announced a lifting of 
some economic sanctions against Communist North Korea 
in response to the North's pledge to refrain from 
further tests of long-range missiles.  Correspondent 
Nick Simeone has details on what could lead to the 
most significant thaw in relations between both 
countries since the end of the Korean conflict nearly 
50 years ago.

TEXT:  U-S intelligence officials had been warning the 
North was preparing to follow up last year's surprise 
test-firing of a long-range rocket with another more 
advanced missile, this one perhaps capable of 
delivering a warhead as far as away as Alaska or 
Hawaii.  But the Clinton Administration says it now 
has achieved an understanding with Pyongyang that 
North Korea will  not  go ahead with such tests as 
long as negotiations continue on improving relations 
with Washington. 

The U-S sanctions being lifted include those covering 
the buying and selling of non-military consumer goods, 
as well as financial transactions between North 
Koreans and Americans.  Commercial American ships and 
planes will be allowed visit to North Korea, while 
diplomatic contacts increase.  

It was North Korea's pledge to freeze missile tests 
that led President Clinton's special adviser on North 
Korea, William Perry, to recommend some sanctions be 
waived while efforts continue toward normalizing 
relations. 

            /// PERRY ACT ///

      I think both sides would see that that test is a 
      positive step, but  not  terribly significant in 
      and of itself.  And both sides are looking 
      forward to moving to a path of normalization, a 
      normalization of diplomatic relations, 
      normalization of economic relations and, in both 
      cases, all countries concerned I think will see 
      a considerable benefit. 

            /// END ACT ///

But the pledge North Korea made to freeze missile 
testing falls short of a formal agreement and appears 
to be based only on verbal assurances given to Mr. 
Perry during a visit to Pyongyang.  Washington and its 
Asian allies already have suspicions about the North's 
nuclear intentions despite a 1994 agreement meant to 
freeze production of weapons-grade plutonium.

// OPT // Still, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 
calls this a potentially important turning point.

            /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///

      It is a road that holds out the possibility of 
      long-term stability and even eventual 
      reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.  It's a 
      road America and its allies want to walk down 
      with the North, but it is not a one-way street.  
      If circumstances warrant that we go back to 
      square one, we can do so without damage to our 
      interests.   If circumstances require that we go 
      down a different road altogether, we will do so 
      to defend our interests.  

         /// END ACT ///   /// END OPT ///

On Capitol Hill, support for the easing of sanctions 
is mixed, with some Republicans opposed.

// OPT //  Senate Majority leader Trent Lott:

            /// LOTT ACT ///

      North Korea has taken threatening actions.  They 
      have not always kept their word.  Now, the 
      President is first going to act to grant relief 
      on trade and other restrictions in anticipation 
      of some actions or restraint by North Korea.  So 
      I have some questions about it.
      
         /// END ACT ///   /// END OPT ///

Despite its pledge  not  to test long-range missiles, 
the United States achieved  no  firm commitment that 
the cash-strapped North Korean government will  not  
export missile technology to rogue nations.  And 
despite the easing of some sanctions, the North will 
remain on the U-S government's list of terrorist-
supporting nations.   (Signed)

NEB/NJS/WTW



17-Sep-1999 17:29 PM EDT (17-Sep-1999 2129 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.