But the chances of the two military allies finalizing any deal during their two-day talks in Seoul seemed slim, amid tension between the two sides over issues such as the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Caption: Members of the South Korean Air Force using gas masks display how to attach bombs to their F-4E fighter jets, at Osan air base 19 August 1999. South Korea and the US military took part in the 12-day 'Ulchi Focus Lens' exercises, which started 16 August, intended to deter any North Korean attack. The exercises have been held annually, but were given greater significance this year due to fears that North Korea will soon fire its Taepodong II new long-range missile that could hit parts of the United States. Photo Copyright AFP

"Both sides may need more time to narrow down their differences," a South Korean foreign ministry official told AFP, hinting that another round of talks would be necessary in the future. The official requested anonymity.

The bone of contention was Washington's demand that Seoul make its missile development programs transparent to the United States, he added.

"Negotiators from both sides discussed tens of technical issues closely related to transparency," another ministry official said.

South Korean military officials privately said the demand violated Seoul's national security. South Korean officials said the difficult talks may be lengthened.

"The talks could be extended until Saturday," a foreign ministry official told AFP, adding US chief negotiator Robert Einhorn was due to leave for Japan on Sunday morning. Seoul had earlier expected the talks to end Friday.

Tension has been brewing over recent weeks between the US and South Korean military authorities over allegations of a massacre of civilians by US troops during the Korean War and charges that Seoul this year carried out a secret missile test, an allegation Seoul denied.

Relations have also been strained by the continuing controversy over the use of the defoliant Agent Orange -- linked to cancer and birth defects -- during the Vietnam War, in which South Korea fought alongside the US.

A 327-million-dollar damages suit brought by 2,200 veterans against US defoliant makers finished Friday. The case is a prelude to a main suit brought by 17,000 South Korean veterans.

On the first day of the talks here Thursday, Einhorn urged South Korea to abide by US-led global missile non-proliferation efforts.

"We are prepared to look at the ROK's interests in a very sympathetic way and to try to work out a mutually satisfactory solution that conforms also with the US global non-proliferation interest," Einhorn said.

The global Missile Technology Control Regime, aimed at stopping the spread of rockets, bans trade in missiles with a range of over 300 kilometers with warheads of more than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).

Both South Korea and the United States have endorsed the regime.

Song Min-Sun, director general of the foreign ministry's North American Affairs Bureau, was leading the South Korean team to the talks.

Under a 1970s agreement with Washington, Seoul agreed to set its missile range at 180 kilometers (108 miles) and promised to abide by US-led global non-proliferation rules in return for receiving US missile technology.

But South Korea now wants to formally boost the range to 300 kilometers for deployment and 500 kilometers for scientific research and development.

Seoul has complained that its existing missiles cannot hit any targets further north than the North Korean capital Pyongyang, falling far short of its perceived need to have all North Korean territory within range.

Stalinist North Korea last August test-launched a medium-range Taepodong I missile over Japan.

This year there were signs it was preparing to launch a longer-range rocket which could hit parts of the US mainland, including Alaska, Hawaii and Guam, a threat averted in September when it agreed to a moratorium on test launches in return for an easing of decades-old US sanctions.

Some South Korean officials say Washington has already agreed to extend Seoul's missile range to 300 kilometers, but not to 500 kilometers.

Seoul has also denied a New York Times report which claimed it built a rocket test station and conducted a short test flight of a new missile without notifying Washington, stressing the US was kept fully informed.

Copyright 1999 AFP. All rights reserved. The material on this page is provided by AFP and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MILSPACE
China Eyes South China Sea Pad
Hong Kong (AFP) October 4, 1999 - China is planning to build a satellite launching centre on Hainan island in the South China Sea, a report here said Monday.An official said the construction of a launching pad could cost up to two billion yuan (24 million dollars), adding the project could invite foreign investment.

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