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US-North Korea missile talks resume

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November 2, 2000 

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - In a meeting that could influence whether President Clinton makes a historic trip to North Korea, U.S. and North Korean officials resumed talks Wednesday that Washington hopes will curb the communist country's missile program and improve global security.

The talks follow an encouraging meeting last week between U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

"Serious progress was made, including missile issues, but much work remains to be done," said Robert Einhorn, assistant secretary of state and head of the U.S. delegation, of last week's meeting.

A breakthrough in the missile talks in Kuala Lumpur could influence a decision on whether Clinton visits the North Korean capital in one of his final overseas forays, a mission that could be one of his last chances to build a proud foreign policy legacy.

"The talks this week will build on discussions between Albright and Chairman Kim," Einhorn said. "The United States will seek solutions that promote non-proliferation and promote regional and global security and help move Korean-U.S. relations forward."

North Korean negotiator Jang Chang Chon, head of his country's bureau on U.S. affairs, said that the talks at the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, seen by both countries as a neutral venue, were expected to last until Friday but could go longer.

"We'll discuss all issues, including our suspension of missile exports and the U.S. launch of our satellites during the missile talks," Jang was quoted as saying by the South Korean news agency, Yonhap.

Jung Sung Il, secretary general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, told reporters after the first day wrapped up that "the meeting was held in a good atmosphere, with serious discussion."

"Maybe we can have results, but for now it is uncertain because the meeting is still going on," Jung said.

Einhorn said that the discussions would focus on "North Korea's indigenous missile program and missile-related exports and Chairman Kim's idea of exchanging serious North Korea missile restrains for launches of North Korean satellites."

North Korea has said it needs missiles to launch scientific satellites. Earlier this month, U.S. and North Korean experts discussed a proposal under which Pyongyang would deactivate its own missiles and allow launches by another country.

Also under the proposed bargain, North Korea would curb its missile program in exchange for promises of U.S. help for its devastated economy.

Einhorn and Jang were in Kuala Lumpur in July, but the talks deadlocked when the Pyongyang team demanded dlrs 1 billion in compensation to curb its profitable missile exports.

Pyongyang regards its missile program as part of its right to self-defense. The United States has so far refused to pay Pyongyang to curb exports of missile technology.

U.S. officials say the long-reclusive, impoverished country stands to gain far more politically and economically from a better security environment and normalized relations with Washington.

The United States claims North Korea is the world's top exporter of missile equipment and technology, to customers including Pakistan and Iran, and wants development and exports of missiles stopped.

After rattling Asia in mid-1998 by test firing a missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean, North Korea recently agreed to a moratorium on long-range missile tests in exchange for an easing of U.S. sanctions.