DATE=12/10/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223931

TITLE=KOREA TALKS / SECOND DAY / L

BYLINE=MAX RUSTON

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  NEGOTIATORS FROM NORTH KOREA, SOUTH KOREA, THE UNITED 

STATES AND CHINA ARE HOLDING A SECOND AND FINAL DAY OF KOREAN 

PEACE TALKS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN GENEVA.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX

RUSTON REPORTS FROM GENEVA.



TEXT:  BEFORE ENTERING THE SECOND DAY OF TALKS, A SOUTH KOREAN 

OFFICIAL CONFIRMED SOME PROGRESS  WAS MADE DURING MORE THAN SEVEN

HOURS OF DISCUSSION TUESDAY.  HE DESCRIBES THE PROGRESS AS 

"MODEST," SAYING AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON HOLDING A SECOND  ROUND

OF PEACE TALKS.  THOSE TALKS ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE HELD

IN GENEVA IN MARCH.



U-S AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY THEIR  OBJECTIVE IN THE TALKS 

IS TO ESTABLISH A PEACE TREATY TO REPLACE THE 1953 ARMISTICE THAT

ENDED FIGHTING IN THE KOREAN WAR.  NO SPECIFIC PROGRESS ON THAT 

ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE GENEVA TALKS.



DURING THE FIRST DAY OF TALKS, NEGOTIATORS FROM THE FOUR  

COUNTRIES INVOLVED PRESENTED THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS.  NORTH  KOREA

SAID IT WANTS THE TALKS TO RESULT IN THE REMOVAL OF U-S TROOPS 

FROM SOUTH KOREA -- A DEMAND U-S OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THEY 

WILL NOT ACCEPT.  THERE ARE ABOUT 37 THOUSAND U-S TROOPS IN SOUTH

KOREA.  NORTH KOREA ALSO WANTS TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE PEACE 

TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES.



THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT RULED OUT DISCUSSING THOSE ISSUES.  

HOWEVER, IT HAS MADE IT CLEAR IT FIRST WANTS TO SEE AN EASING OF 

TENSION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA AND PROGRESS IN BUILDING DIRECT 

CONTACTS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA.



U-S OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED AGAINST EXPECTING SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

OUT OF THIS FIRST ROUND OF TALKS.  THEY SAY IT HAS TAKEN MORE 

THAN 40 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT IN THE PEACE PROCESS AND COULD

TAKE MANY MORE YEARS BEFORE A PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED.  

NEGOTIATORS SAY THIS FIRST  ROUND WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW EACH SIDE

TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND TO ESTABLISH A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE 

TALKS.  THE SAY THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENT IS THAT THE TALKS ARE TAKING

PLACE, AS SCHEDULED, WITH ALL PARTIES IN ATTENDANCE.  (SIGNED)



NEB / MPR / WD / WD







10-Dec-97 5:44 AM EST (1044 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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