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WINSTON LORD
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS

ON-THE-RECORD ROUNDTABLE WITH JAPANESE MEDIA
OCTOBER, 18, 1996

... ... ...

Q1: Mr. Secretary can you confirm that North Korea is preparing for a missile launch test in a matter of days if not weeks?

A1: Of course as I think you understand, we do not comment on intelligence matters and this falls into that category. But let me say that if these reports that have surfaced the last day or two prove accurate, we would be very concerned and we would hope that North Korea would reconsider such a test. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is already delicate given the North Korean incursion of the submarine and other provocative acts, and rhetoric and this possible event that you refer to would only add to that. So we would like to see, as I stressed in my trip to Korea, in fact reinforced in my trip to China, a cooling off of the situation.

We are maintaining firm solidarity with our South Korean friends. We are trying to ensure that North Korea does not carry through on its threats. But we are also reaffirming that we and the South Koreans, and I'm sure the Japanese would agree with this, wish to preserve the nuclear freeze, the agreed framework, KEDO, and the four-party peace proposal of the two Presidents, Kim and Clinton. But this will require the cooperation of North Korea and some gestures on their part to improve the atmosphere. We will maintain solidarity, not only with our South Korean friends, but close consultations with Japan which has such a large stake in this issue.

Q2: Is the United States going to try to consult with the North Koreans to refrain from the missile test?

A2: Well again, I've just said I can't comment on intelligence matters and therefore I can't comment on what we may or may not be wishing to do. I do think what I just said speaks for itself.

Q3: But I understand that U.S. forces are involved in the operation of surveillance of the possible North Korean missile test. Could you comment on that?

A3: No, I can't comment on that.

Q4: Based on the given situation, do you think it cannot be helped for us to see some delay in terms of progress on the Framework Agreement between the United States and North Korea, and including some construction of nuclear facilities in North Korea?

A4: Well I want to separate out two dimensions here. We and the South Koreans, and this was reaffirmed during my visit and it was reaffirmed when foreign ministers met at the United Nations a couple of weeks ago, we both, despite the submarine incursion and related events, wish to preserve the agreed framework, move ahead with KEDO, move ahead with mutual obligations under the agreed framework, even as we would like to see a response to the four-party proposal. So let's be very clear on that. We have no desire and in fact we strongly wish to avoid any unraveling of that very important agreement which serves North Korean interests as well as ours, Japan, South Korea and for that matter global stability. Now having said that, given the present atmosphere on the Peninsula, we understand, as I said in Korea, why South Korea is reluctant to send a lot of its technicians North in terms of concern for their safety at this point. So I want to distinguish that kind of immediate tactical question from a basic intention to move ahead with KEDO and with other aspects of the Framework.