DATE=9/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - NORTH KOREA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254225
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  President Clinton says he believes North Korea 
will abide by its agreement to suspend missile 
testing, but he warns the United States would take 
unspecified action against Pyongyang if it reneges on 
its promise.  Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from 
the White House.

TEXT:  In an appearance before reporters Wednesday to 
welcome a Justice Department lawsuit against tobacco 
companies, Mr. Clinton was asked whether he believes 
North Korea will make good on its commitment to 
refrain from testing long-range missiles while U.S. 
and North Korean negotiators discuss improving 
bilateral ties.

He said he did, but he added that if Pyongyang did not 
abide by the agreement, Washington would respond. 
He said the deal would help bring stability to the 
Korean peninsula, where some 37-thousand U.S. troops 
are stationed.

            /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

      It (the agreement) offers the most promising 
      opportunity to lift the cloud of uncertainty and 
      insecurity and danger that otherwise would hang 
      over that whole region, including the American 
      service men and women who are there.  I am very 
      very hopeful about it.  If it works it does, if 
      it does not, there will be other options open to 
      us.

            /// END ACT ///

He did not elaborate, but his comments suggest that at 
a minimum, Washington would reimpose trade sanctions 
against Pyongyang that it eased after the missile 
testing agreement was announced last week during U.S. 
- North Korean talks in Berlin.

The United States, along with Japan and South Korea, 
had been looking for a way to halt North Korea's 
missile program ever since Pyongyang test-launched a 
long-range missile over Japan last year.  Mr. Clinton 
discussed the issue with South Korean President Kim 
Dae Jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on 
the sidelines of an Asian-Pacific trade summit in 
Auckland, New Zealand last week.  (Signed)

NEB/DAT/TVM/gm



22-Sep-1999 19:19 PM EDT (22-Sep-1999 2319 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.