Tracking Number: 335638
Title: "Christopher Says US Working Closely with China on N Korea Resolution." Secretary of State Christopher's remarks to reporters prior to his meeting with South Korean
foreign minister Han Sung-Joo. (940330)
Date: 19940330
Text:
*EPF303
03/30/94
CHRISTOPHER SAYS U.S. WORKING CLOSELY WITH CHINA ON NKOREA RES (Transcript: Remarks prior to meeting with ForMin Han) (690) Washington -- Secretary of State Christopher says the United States has been working closely with China on the text of a resolution on the North Korean nuclear inspections issue.
"We're going to be continuing to pursue a resolution in the (U.N.) Security Council," Christopher told reporters prior to his March 30 meeting with Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo.
Following is official transcript of remarks: (begin official transcript) Remarks by Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo prior to their meeting Department of State Washington, D.C. March 30, 1994 SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Good morning. I'm very pleased to welcome here a frequent visitor, Foreign Minister Han of South Korea. The United States has a very deep commitment to South Korea. It's a long-time friend, so naturally we will have a good deal to talk about, especially in these moments of tension with North Korea.
Foreign Minister Han will be, no doubt, telling me about his recent trip and the recent trip of his president to Beijing; but we have a good-sized agenda to talk about. He is always welcome.
FOREIGN MINISTER HAN: My president just visited Japan and China, and after accompanying him to China, I came directly from Beijing to Washington. I wanted to talk about how we respond to the North Korean nuclear issue. At the moment, there is discussion going on in the Security Council of the United Nations and I'll be going to New York this evening. But, I'm looking forward to meeting with the secretary this morning.
QUESTION: Mr. Han, is there any significant difference between your government's approach and the U.S. government's approach to resolving the nuclear inspection issue?
FOREIGN MINISTER HAN: Not that I can tell. We are in very close touch. We've been together step by step, and on all the issues we have been very close. There haven't been any differences that we know.
QUESTION: Do you detect any difference between China's approach and the American approach?
FOREIGN MINISTER HAN: Well, the Chinese have been emphasizing the importance of dialogue and we have also emphasized, of course, the importance of dialogue. Probably there is some difference in the emphasis that we put -- the Chinese think that that's the major way, almost the only way. We think it's an important matter.
QUESTION: Foreign Minister Han, what is your main message to the secretary this morning? Do you think or are you going to advise him whether or not the Security Council is going to have to back off on a resolution or even a statement concerning North Korea's nuclear program?
FOREIGN MINISTER HAN: Well, I'm not here to advise him, I'm here to discuss. We will try to come up with the most effective and realistic way to deal with this issue, both at the Security Council and elsewhere.
QUESTION: Foreign Minister Han, does your country favor a resolution urging North Korea to open up their facilities for inspections or a presidential statement? And for you, Mr. Secretary, were you disappointed with the discussions on the resolution last night, specifically China apparently winning out for the moment on a presidential statement versus a resolution?
FOREIGN MINISTER HAN: I think the most important thing is to find -- I think I used the words, effective and realistic way -- whether it's a resolution or a presidential statement. But I think we'll be able to find a good formula.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I was not disappointed yesterday with the consultations. I had a number of consultations. I talked with the British, French and Russian foreign ministers. We had some consultations with the Chinese. We worked closely with them on the text of the resolution. We're going to be continuing to pursue a resolution in the Security Council. As I also said yesterday, the content is probably more significant than the form. But at the moment, we are pursuing a resolution of the Security Council on the content of the resolution.
Thank you. (end official transcript) NNNN
File Identification: 03/30/94, EPF303
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: CHRISTOPHER, WARREN/Speaker; KOREA (SOUTH)-US RELATIONS/Policy; HAN
SUNG-JOO; FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETINGS; KOREA (NORTH)/Defense & Military; INSPECTIONS; ARMS CONTROL VERIFICATION; INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY; NON-PROLIF
Document Type: TRA
Thematic Codes: 1EA; 1AC; 1UN
Target Areas: EA
PDQ Text Link: 335638
USIA Notes: *94033003.EPF
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