NORTH KOREA . . . TALKS NOT IN JEOPARDY

Clinton Administration officials tell TIME that chief U.S. negotiator Robert Gallucci and his North Korean counterpart Kang Sok Ju will likely meet again Friday -- a sign that undercuts speculation the talks over North Korea's nuclear program have stalled. The two diplomats called a break until technical experts could hash out what to do with 8,000 plutonium-rich fuel rods now cooling off in pools of water at the Yongbyon nuclear plant. Those rods could become dangerous if not removed within the month. To replace the faulty plant, negotiators are putting together a reported $2-billion deal for a safer light water reactor, whose fuel couldn't double as material for nuclear warheads. TIME correspondent Jay Peterzell says all this science leaves little time this week for the trimmings, such as working out full diplomatic ties, trade arrangements and a peace treaty with the U.S. formally ending the Korean War. "Nothing has gone wrong," Peterzell says. "It's just that if you expect a new a