CONFERENCE HUTS; AMERICAN GENERAL ARRIVING; KOREANS ARRIVING; N. KOREAN MAJOR-GENERAL SPEAKING; END OF CONFERENCE; KOREAN SOLDIERS.




Initials MJS/VS/JH/LAD



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NORTH KOREAN DELEGATES IGNORED REPEATED UNITED STATES APPEALS ON THURSDAY (AUGUST 21) FOR INFORMATION ON THE FATE OF THE U.S. SOLDIERS ABOARD A HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH KOREA ON SUNDAY.

THE REQUESTS WERE MADE AT THE 292ND MEETING OF THE KOREA MILITARY ARMISTICE COMMISSION HELD AT PANMUNJON BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND AND NORTH KOREA.

U.S. MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR H. ADAMS, OF THE MARINE CORPS, WHO SPOKE FOR THE U.N. COMMAND, ALSO REQUESTED THE RETURN OF THE TWO OFFICERS AND ONE ENLISTED MAN, IF THEY WERE ALIVE. THIS TOO, MET WITH NO RESPONSE.

NORTH KOREA'S CHIEF DELEGATE, MAJOR-GENERAL RI CHUN SUN MADE NO DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE THREE MEN WHEN HE ASKED WHY THE HELICOPTER HAD FLOWN SO FAR NORTH OF THE DEMILITARISED ZONE IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DESPATCHED PURPOSELY. IT HAD BEEN SHOT DOWN NEAR THE HAN RIVER ESTUARY, ABOUT 35 MILES FROM SEOUL.

HE DENOUNCED AS A 'PURE LIE' GENERAL ADAMS' EXPLANATION THAT THE FLIGHT WAS TO AQUAINT THE PILOT, WHO HAD ONLY RECENTLY ARRIVED IN KOREA, WITH HELICOPTER PADS SOUTH OF THE DEMILITARISED ZONE.

GENERAL SUN CLAIMED THE NORTH KOREANS SHOT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN A 'SELF-DEFENSIVE ACT', CALLED FOR AN APOLOGY FROM THE U.N. COMMAND, AND ASKED THEM TO DISCLOSE THE 'REAL PURPOSE OF INTRUSION'.

THE U.N. COMMAND OFFERED TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATION FOR THE RELEASE OF THE MEN, BUT WHEN THE MEETING ENDED, NORTH KOREA STILL REFUSED TO CONSIDER THE PLEAS.