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Seoul fears Clinton diplomacy could derail unification

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, October 31, 2000

TOKYO — Seoul is quietly concerned that U.S.reconciliation efforts with Pyongyang may disrupt the momentum toward peace between the two Koreas.

Asian diplomatic sources said North Korea has already suspended efforts to reconcile with the South in favor of dealing with Washington. They said some officials in Seoul feel this could only bolster the prospect of renewed tension on the peninsula.

The sources said the government in South Korea is worried that President Bill Clinton will ram through a new policy toward Pyongyang during last weeks of his presidency. The sources said Clinton appears to have assessed that reconciliation with North Korea could crown his administration's foreign policy. The president is said to be preparing a trip to Pyongyang on Nov. 11.

On Monday, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung urged his government to be patient. He assured ministers that Washington will not abandon Seoul.

"South Korea, the United States and Japan have closely coordinated their North Korea policy, and such cooperation will continue in the future as well," Kim said. "We have encouraged the United States to move toward mending frozen ties with North Korea and help the reclusive communist country emerge from its isolationist shell."

North Korea has also been preoccupied with improving relations with Japan. On Monday in Beijing, the two countries completed the first day of talks to normalize relations.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000


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