18 October 2002
White House Says U.S. Will Work with Allies on North Korea Nuclear Issue
(State Department notes U.S. talks with China) (610)
By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent
Washington -- White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer October 18
refused comment on a front page report in the New York Times that says
United States intelligence officials have concluded that Pakistan was
a major supplier of critical equipment for North Korea's newly
revealed clandestine nuclear weapons program.
Talking with reporters October 18 on Air Force One as they accompanied
President Bush on a domestic trip, Fleischer said "I'm not going to
comment specifically about that report.
"But let me give you this information to be helpful. Since September
11th, we've developed a very different relationship with many of the
countries on whom North Korea traditionally relies for technology,
economic and diplomatic support. These countries want good and
improved relations with the United States, and they have no interest
in a nuclearized North Korea.
"We also have close allies to whom North Korea is turning in
desperation for economic health. These nations also want a good
relationship with the United States. They, too, don't have an interest
in a nuclearized peninsula.
"We have alliances that we will work with, through, to talk about
these issues and about how to deal with any threats to the region.
North Korea depends on outside help to sustain its collapsing economic
system and to feed its people. North Korea has an interest to make
certain that the regional neighbors don't view North Korean actions
with alarm.
"So taken together, we have an opportunity to begin to address this
problem with an international coalition and we're going to work with
our allies and friends and partners on it."
The United States, Fleischer pointed out, "is committed to
anti-proliferation and we're going to work hard to make that the case
in all regions of the world."
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, at his daily press
briefing October 18, also refused to comment on news reports about
countries alleged to have supplied equipment and technology that
helped North Korea develop weapons of mass destruction.
Boucher said he was "not in a position to comment on those (reports)
in any fashion, because they attempt to directly define what's in our
intelligence reports, and we all know that that's not something we
do."
He too said that since September 11th "we've had a lot of support
around the world (and a) very different relationship with many of the
countries on whom North Korea's traditionally relied for technology,
economic support and diplomatic support."
Asked about ongoing meetings in Asia that two high State Department
officials are currently holding, Boucher said:
"Undersecretary (John) Bolton and Assistant Secretary (James) Kelly
are, as you know, on a trip to consult with friends and allies in the
region on North Korea's nuclear programs and the international
response. The talks they've had in Beijing have been very useful and
productive. We've had a long history of cooperation with China on
Korean peninsula issues, and both sides intend to continue that.
"We think the Chinese government shares our concern about the possible
introduction of nuclear weapons into the Korean peninsula. We hope to
proceed on the basis of that shared concerns, and we will continue our
consultations with China."
Boucher pointed out that President Bush "will be meeting with the
Chinese president next week" in Texas.
According to news reports, North Korea admitted two weeks ago to Kelly
that it had been violating the 1994 "Agreed Framework" between the
United States and North Korea, under which North Korea was to halt all
nuclear weapons development, and the United States was to organize an
international consortium to finance and construct two nuclear power
plants in North Korea and to supply 500,000 metric tons of heavy fuel
oil per year while they were being built.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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