DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235415
TITLE=KOREA / INFILTRATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  SEOUL AND PYONGYANG ARE TRADING BLAME FOR AN APPARENT 
INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH KOREA BY A NORTH KOREAN COMMANDO.  JOHN 
LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL, THE SOUTH IS CALLING FOR AN APOLOGY.

TEXT:  THE SOUTH'S UNIFICATION MINISTRY IS DEMANDING THAT NORTH 
KOREA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE APPARENT INFILTRATION, WHICH 
WAS UNCOVERED AFTER THE BODY OF A NORTH KOREAN COMMANDO WASHED UP
ON THE SOUTH KOREAN COAST ON MONDAY.

IN A STRONGLY-WORDED STATEMENT, THE MINISTRY DESCRIBED THE 
INCIDENT AS  UNFORGIVABLE BEHAVIOR.  IT DISMISSED CLAIMS BY 
PYONGYANG THAT IT HAD  NOTHING  TO DO WITH THE INTRUSION.

THE OFFICIAL NORTH KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY QUOTES AN OFFICIAL 
SPOKESMAN AS ACCUSING SOUTHERN HARD-LINERS OF CONCOCTING THE 
INCIDENT, IN A BID TO SHARPEN TENSIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH.

THE APPARENT INFILTRATION FOLLOWS WARNINGS LAST WEEK BY THE 
SOUTH'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCY THAT PYONGYANG MAY INTENSIFY 
ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES, AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER'S PRESIDENTIAL 
INAUGURATION OF THE NORTH'S LEADER KIM JONG-IL.

A MANHUNT IS CONTINUING IN THE AREA WHERE THE BODY WAS FOUND, 
NEAR THE SOUTHEAST PORT OF DONGHAE.  THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS HAVE 
COMBED RUGGED MOUNTAIN TERRAIN, BUT  NO TRACE OF ANY INFILTRATORS
HAS BEEN FOUND.

THE TROOPS ARE SEARCHING FOR TWO AGENTS BELIEVED TO BE STILL AT 
LARGE, TRYING TO MAKE IT BACK TO NORTH KOREA.  // OPT //  AN 
EARLY-MORNING DISCOVERY OF TWO WETSUITS PROVED TO BE A FALSE 
ALARM.  THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THEY PROBABLY BELONG TO LOCAL 
FISHERMEN.  // END OPT //

NAVY FROGMEN ARE SEARCHING UNDERWATER IN CASE THE AGENTS DROWNED,
WHILE VESSELS ARE SCOURED SURROUNDING SEAS FOR SIGNS OF A NORTH 
KOREAN MOTHER SHIP.

THE DEAD COMMANDO WAS FOUND HEAVILY ARMED, WITH A MACHINE GUN, 
BAYONET AND HAND GRENADE.  A SMALL UNDERWATER PROPULSION CRAFT, 
CAPABLE OF CARRYING FIVE PEOPLE, WAS FOUND NEARBY.

ON MONDAY IT EMERGED AFTER AN AUTOPSY THAT THE MAN DIED OF A 
HEART ATTACK BEFORE REACHING SHORE.

THE INTRUSION IS THE SECOND IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, FOLLOWING 
THE CAPTURE OF A NORTH KOREAN SPY SUB IN SOUTHERN WATERS IN LATE 
JUNE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JL/FC/WTW 

14-Jul-98 6:09 AM EDT (1009 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.