DATE=3-7-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-273405

TITLE=Bush Korea (s-wrap)

BYLINE=Deborah Tate

DATELINE=White House

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush says he supports South Korea's policy of rapprochement with North Korea. But he says Washington has no plans to immediately resume talks with Pyongyang on ending North Korea's missile program. Mr. Bush made his comments at a meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

Text: Mr. Bush says he wants to work with South Korea to help bring peace to the divided Korean peninsula.

But he says he believes North Korea remains a threat, and he says he is skeptical about whether Pyongyang would honor new accords.

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

Part of the problem dealing with North Korea is that there is not very much transparency. We are not certain they are keeping all terms of all agreements.

/// END ACT ///

Although South Korea had hoped the Bush administration would quickly resume missile talks with Pyongyang at the point where the former Clinton administration had left off, Secretary of State Colin Powell said there would be no negotiations until after a review of U-S policy toward North Korea.

For his part, Mr. Kim pledged to consult with Mr. Bush as he moves forward with his so-called 'sunshine policy' of rapprochement with the North. (signed)

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