ACCESSION NUMBER:329789
FILE ID:POL401
DATE:03/03/94
TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, MARCH 3 (03/03/94)
TEXT:*94030301.POL
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, MARCH 3

(Korean peninsula, Bosnia, Somalia)  (560)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Spokesman Kathleen deLaski discussed the following topics:

U.S.-SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY EXERCISE IS SUSPENDED

The joint U.S.-Republic of Korea "Team Spirit" military exercise "is being
suspended as of today," deLaski said, conditional on fruitful inspections
by International Atomic Energy Agency personnel of North Korean nuclear
sites and the beginning of the North-South dialogue on denuclearizing the
Korean peninsula.

She noted that the third round of negotiations between the United States and
1he Democratic People's Republic of Korea is scheduled to begin in Geneva
on March 21.

DeLaski said she did not believe the current flurry of diplomatic activity
indicated any less of a requirement for U.S. Patriot anti-missile defense
systems in South Korea.  The Patriot request made by U.S. theater commander
Gary Luck reflects the general's analysis that the anti-missile systems are
needed on "a non-emergency basis," she said, "over the longer term for
force protection" and is not a reflection of recent tensions on the
peninsula.

The timing of the Patriot deployment is an issue which is still being
discussed in South Korea, according to the spokesman, who said U.S.
military officials are working with their South Korean counterparts to get
"their full concurrence."

She said the United States does not want the Patriot missiles, which are not
yet in the theater, to become "a political issue."

The deployment decision has to be made in consultation with the host
government, deLaski noted, describing South Korea as a "staunch ally" of
the United States "for decades."  The United States would like to conduct
the deployment, she said, "in a manner and timing" with which the host
government feels comfortable.  "We want to work" with the South Koreans "as
closely as possible," she added, "and move the ball as quickly as
possible."