DATE=7/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235143
TITLE=S. KOREA / RUSSIA DIPLOMAT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNIFER VEALE
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  SOUTH KOREA DECIDED ON WEDNESDAY TO EXPEL A RUSSIAN 
DIPLOMAT, APPARENTLY IN RETALIATION FOR MOSCOW'S EVICTION OF A 
SOUTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT LAST WEEKEND.  JENNIFER VEALE HAS DETAILS 
FROM SEOUL.

TEXT:  IN WHAT IS BEING VIEWED AS A TIT-FOR-TAT EXPULSION, SOUTH 
KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT THE RUSSIAN 
DIPLOMAT, OLEG ABRAMKIM, MUST LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN 72 HOURS.

THE DECISION CAME ONLY ONE DAY AFTER A SOUTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT WHO 
WAS ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES RETURNED TO 
SEOUL. 

THE DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE ERUPTED WHEN RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ACCUSED 
CHO SUNG-WOO, A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY, 
OF SPYING IN MOSCOW.  HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED AT THE HOME OF A 
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL.

MR. CHO ARRIVED BACK IN SOUTH KOREA ON TUESDAY, WHERE HE 
IMMEDIATELY DENIED THE SPYING ALLEGATIONS..

SEOUL HAS PROTESTED TO MOSCOW THAT IT WAS  NOT  CONSULTED BEFORE 
THE ARREST SATURDAY OF THE SOUTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT, WHO SAYS HE WAS
INTERROGATED FOR TWO HOURS.

IN EXPELLING MR. ABRAMKIN, SOUTH KOREA DECLARED THE RUSSIAN 
PERSONA NON GRATA, ACCUSING HIM OF ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES UNFIT 
FOR A DIPLOMAT SINCE SEPTEMBER 1994.

THE INCIDENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN TIES BETWEEN THE TWO 
COUNTRIES, WHICH WERE NORMALIZED ONLY IN 1990, IN THE AFTERMATH 
OF THE BREAK-UP OF THE SOVIET UNION.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JV/FC/WTW

08-Jul-98 6:32 AM EDT (1032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.