DATE=7/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235608
TITLE=NORTH KOREA SPY / U-N (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNIFER VEALE
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

 INTRO: SOUTH KOREA HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS 
SECURITY COUNCIL SEEKING INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION OF TWO RECENT
NORTH KOREAN INCURSIONS INTO THE SOUTH.  JENNIFER VEALE REPORTS 
FROM SEOUL THE MOVE COMES AS THE TWO KOREA'S TRADE ACCUSATIONS 
OVER THE INCIDENTS.

TEXT:  SOUTH KOREA'S SEMIOFFICIAL YONHAP NEWS AGENCY REPORTED 
FRIDAY THAT SOUTH KOREA SENT THE LETTER TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL 
THURSDAY, URGING CONDEMNATION OF TWO INCURSIONS BY THE NORTH IN 
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, 

IT IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS THE SOUTH HAS SOUGHT
INTERNATIONAL CENSURE OF THE NORTH FOR ITS INFILTRATIONS.  IN 
LATE 1996,  SEOUL FILED A PROTESTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS AFTER A
SUBMARINE RAN AGROUND ON THE SOUTH'S EAST COAST.

TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO FLARED AGAIN THIS WEEK, AFTER THE BODY 
OF A NORTH KOREAN COMMANDO WAS FOUND WASHED ASHORE IN THE SAME 
AREA. 

THE SOUTH'S DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS LAUNCHED A HUGE MANHUNT FOR TWO 
AGENTS IT BELIEVES ARE STILL AT LARGE, BUT SO FAR NO TRACE OF 
THEM HAS BEEN FOUND.

THE LATEST INCIDENT FOLLOWS THE CAPTURE  OF A NORTH KOREAN SPY 
SUB IN SOUTH KOREAN WATERS ON JUNE 22ND.

YONHAP QUOTES SOUTH KOREA'S APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS AS 
DEMANDING THAT THE NORTH BE FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCURSIONS,
PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE AND PROMISE NOT TO INFILTRATE THE SOUTH 
AGAIN.

THE STEP WAS TAKEN AFTER NORTH KOREA ON THURSDAY DEMANDED AN 
APOLOGY FROM THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA FOR FAILING TO 
RESCUE THE NINE-MEMBER CREW OF THE MINI-SUBMARINE CAPTURED ON 
JUNE 22ND.  DURING A MEETING WITH UNITED NATIONS OFFICERS AT THE 
TRUCE VILLAGE OF PANMUNJOM, NORTH KOREAN REPRESENTATIVES ACCUSED 
THE SOUTH OF LAUNCHING AN INDISCRIMINATE ATTACK ON THE MINI-SUB, 
CAUSING IT TO OVERTURN AND LATER SINK.

THEY SAID THE NINE CREWMEN WERE LEFT WITH NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO 
COMMIT SUICIDE. THEY WERE LATER FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN AN 
APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE TO AVOID CAPTURE.

LATE THURSDAY NORTH KOREA'S OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY 
DEMANDED THE CAPTURED SUB BE RETURNED. SEOUL HAS REPATRIATED THE 
NINE BODIES, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT RETURNED THE VESSEL.

 IN RESPONSE TO THE TWO INCURSIONS, THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT 
DEMOTED THREE TOP MILITARY OFFICERS COMMANDING FORCES STATIONED 
ON THE EAST COAST. A DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE 
DEMOTIONS WERE PUNISHMENT FOR FAILING TO PREVENT THE 
INFILTRATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/JV/GC/FC

17-Jul-98 4:56 AM EDT (0856 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.