ACCESSION NUMBER:310384
FILE ID:EPF105
DATE:11/01/93
TITLE:ASPIN TO DISCUSS NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN JAPAN, SKOREA (11/01/93)
TEXT:*93110105.EPF
*EPF105  11/01/93 *

ASPIN TO DISCUSS NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN JAPAN, SKOREA
(U.S. has no plans to modify security pact with Japan)  (330)
By Jerry Mckinney
VOA Correspondent
Tokyo -- Officials in both Tokyo and Seoul are expected to discuss North
Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program in talks with U.S. Secretary of
Defense Les Aspin November 2 and 3.

The U.S. defense chief will visit Tokyo briefly before flying on to Seoul to
attend the 25th annual joint security meeting there.

Aspin has scheduled a series of meetings with Japanese officials, beginning
almost immediately after his arrival in Tokyo November 2.  Included in the
meetings will be Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, Foreign Minister Tsutomu
Hata and Defense Minister Keisuke Nakanishi.

The discussions are expected to center on the suspected North Korean nuclear
weapons program.  Other items on the agenda should include a U.S. proposal
to develop a missile defense system with Japan and the Japanese-American
security pact.

The defense secretary says North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program
is the top threat to peace in Northeast Asia.  The United States and North
Korea have been engaged in behind-the-scenes talks aimed at resolving the
issue.

Aspin says the United States has no plans to modify its security pact with
Japan.  He says the treaty continues to play a vital role in the security
of the Asia-Pacific region.  The United States has been pressing Japan to
shoulder a larger share of the costs of maintaining U.S. troops in Japan.
Aspin says the missile-development program is still in its initial stages
but is important to both nations.  The program was begun partially because
of North Korea's development of the Rodong-two missile, which is said to be
able to reach targets in Japan.

Aspin will be in Japan less than 24 hours before flying on to Seoul for the
25th annual joint security meeting with South Korean defense officials.

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