09 September 2002
U.S. and Allies Note Improvements in Pyongyang's Attitude
(Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group joint statement) (560)
U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials meeting in Seoul, South
Korea September 7 noted that the communist regime in Pyongyang had
recently shown an inclination toward international engagement.
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher on September 9 released the
joint statement of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group,
which acknowledged "the more constructive attitude recently shown by
North Korea in its talks with the international community."
The statement added that the Japanese and U.S. delegations "reaffirmed
their support for President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement, and
welcomed the outcome of recent inter-Korean talks held in Seoul."
The delegations from the three allies said they shared the view that
"that faithful implementation of agreements is essential to further
improving the South-North relationship." The joint statement also
reaffirmed the United States' readiness to hold comprehensive and
unconditional talks with North Korea.
Following is the text of the September 7 joint statement by the United
States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 9, 2002
Korea -- Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group Joint Statement
The following joint statement by the U.S., Japan, and Republic of
Korea was released in Seoul on September 7, 2002.
Begin Text:
"The delegations of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States of
America, and Japan, headed respectively by Deputy Foreign Minister
Ambassador Lee Tae-sik, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian
and Pacific Affairs James A. Kelly and Director-General of Asian and
Oceanian Affairs Hitoshi Tanaka, held this year's fourth
ROK-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG)
meeting in Seoul on September 7, 2002.
The three delegations reconfirmed the importance of the international
community's engagement of North Korea. In this regard, they recognized
the more constructive attitude recently shown by North Korea in its
talks with the international community.
The U.S. and Japanese delegations reaffirmed their support for
President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement, and welcomed the
outcome of recent inter-Korean talks held in Seoul. In this
connection, the three delegations shared the view that faithful
implementation of agreements is essential to further improving the
South-North relationship.
The ROK and U.S. delegations welcomed the recent progress in the talks
between Japan and North Korea. In particular, they expressed their
strong support for Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea,
which they hope will contribute to the improvement of Japan-DPRK
relations and the promotion of regional stability in Northeast Asia.
The ROK and Japanese delegations expressed their support for US-DPRK
dialogue to resolve their respective issues of concern. The U.S.
delegation reaffirmed the United States' readiness to hold
comprehensive and unconditional talks with North Korea.
The three delegations reconfirmed their desire to address
long-standing issues involving North Korea, including its missile and
weapons of mass destruction programs, through dialogue. They also
expressed their desire for a humanitarian resolution to the North
Korean refugee issue.
Highlighting the importance of improved implementation of the 1994
Agreed Framework, the three delegations noted progress being made on
the reactor project, as witnessed by the first concrete-pouring
ceremony held recently, and called on North Korea to move forward
promptly to begin full cooperation with the IAEA.
The three delegations reiterated that continued close consultations
and trilateral coordination remain vital to the success of their
individual efforts and agreed to hold the next round of trilateral
consultations in the near future to further coordinate their
respective policies toward North Korea."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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