Officials think a deal is at hand to curb the sale of ballistic technology.
Asia experts are skeptical.
The Clinton administration believes it is on the verge of a deal to curb North Korea's missile program and is likely to undertake talks that could lead to a visit to Pyongyang by President Clinton, U.S. officials said yesterday. Clinton has been considering a trip to the North Korean capital before he leaves office Jan. 20 despite concerns voiced by some Asia experts. No decision has been made on Clinton's trip or on sending State Department counselor Wendy Sherman, chief coordinator of U.S. policy toward North Korea, for a new round of talks, officials said. But such talks were likely, they said. They said an agreement curbing North Korea's missile program was closer than generally believed and they feared it could slip away if left for the next president.