ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 1996 TAG: 9610090042
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
North Korea has notified the United States it is charging a jailed American with espionage, which could result in a death sentence. The Clinton administration is ruling out any tradeoff over a North Korean submarine's infiltration of South Korean waters.
``It would be outrageous and indefensible should the North Koreans try to link the submarine incident with this unfortunate young man who has been arrested, because the North Koreans were the aggressor and the clear violator of international agreements in sending that submarine down the South Korean coast,'' State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said Tuesday.
``So, we reject any linkage,'' Burns said, insisting North Korea explain the infiltration to South Korea.
Assistant Secretary of State Winston Lord is going to Seoul to try to calm nerves and to discuss a resumption of ``Team Spirit'' joint military exercises with South Korea. Senior American military officers already in the region will participate in the talks.
Evan Carl Hunziker was arrested in August after crossing into North Korea from the Yalu River border with China. He was last seen Sept. 17 by Swedish diplomats, acting as intermediaries for the United States, despite repeated U.S. requests that North Korea grant prison visitation rights to Hunziker.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hunziker, who is partly of South Korean ancestry, had not worked for the U.S. government as a spy or in any other capacity.
U.S. diplomats at the United Nations in New York are trying to set up another meeting today with North Korean diplomats, who have informed them of the spy charge and also that Hunziker is being charged with illegal entry.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB