WASHINGTON INSIGHT

NO PUNISHMENT: The pilot of the U.S. Army helicopter shot down by North Korean troops last month probably will not face disciplinary action. Although a formal investigation is continuing, U.S. authorities say they know enough to confirm earlier assumptions that the pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Hall, merely strayed across the North Korean border by mistake and did not violate orders or flout standard military procedures. Hall is said to be embarrassed over his navigational gaffe and ridden by guilt that it led to the death of his co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer David Hilemon. Hall had logged only a few hours in the area, and the chopper had only rudimentary navigational equipment.

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FIRST FOR ‘96: When Republican presidential hopefuls compete in a Louisiana GOP straw poll this weekend in Baton Rouge, the contestants will include Alan L. Keyes, the first African American Republican ever to set up a presidential exploratory committee. Keyes, 44, a two-time loser as Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland, has opened headquarters for his putative presidential campaign in Atlanta, the better to develop a Southern base. Although Republican professionals question whether he can raise enough money to sustain his candidacy, backers are counting on grass-roots support for his brand of conservative populism that includes opposition to the new world trade agreement and abortion. “We’re already getting African American converts from the Democratic Party,” said the campaign’s finance chairman, Art Rocker.

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FIGHTER DIPLOMACY: The Clinton Administration is being coy about how hard it will press Israel over reports that the Israelis have been using U.S. technology to help China build a new jet fighter, in apparent violation of American restrictions. Although Defense Secretary William J. Perry is scheduled to visit Israel next week, Pentagon officials say he does not intend to make much of the matter. But State Department sources say Perry is primed to raise the discrepancy with the Israelis, who concede that Israel sold China “some technology on aircraft,” but insist the contracts were “small in magnitude.” The Times reported last week that the Chinese plane will be based on the Lavi, a joint Israel-U.S. fighter project abandoned in 1987, and will incorporate many of its technological innovations.

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WORST OF THE WORST: Trying to cope with rising prison violence, federal officials next week will dedicate “Supermax,” a new institution they’re billing as the most secure and restrictive in the country. Inmates who murder guards or other prisoners will be sent to the Florence, Colo., facility for 36-month stints, the first year of which will be spent in complete isolation for 23 hours a day. The prison features beds carved out of concrete with no metal or moving parts that could be fashioned into weapons. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno will cut the ribbon on Supermax.

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PHONETICALLY CHALLENGED?: Can you say kwy-EE-say mm-FU-may? If so, you can pronounce the name of Maryland Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume, whose name is among more than 100 unusual monikers listed in a Congressional Quarterly pronunciation guide to the 104th Congress. Among other tongue twisters: Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa)--EN-ee FAH-lee-oh-mav-ah-ENG-uh; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.)--il-ee-AH-na ross-LAY-tin-nen; Gerald D. Kleczka (D-Wis.)--KLETCH-kuh; and Michael D. Crapo (R-Ida.)--CRAY-po.