19 November 1998
TRANSCRIPT: KARTMAN 11/19 NEWS CONFERENCE ON TALKS WITH N. KOREA
(U.S., S. Korea want access to suspicious Kumchangni site) (1160) Washington -- During a press conference at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade November 19, U.S. Special Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks Charles Kartman said the United States and South Korea are determined to resolve suspicions that North Korea is using a site in the Kumchangni area for nuclear related purposes. Kartman said that although the two sides have discussed some ideas for access to the Kumchangni site, "there is still a rather wide gap between our positions, and I have to say that we are not yet satisfied that we have a solution in hand." The United States and South Korea "both believe that there is compelling evidence that this site is intended to be used for nuclear related activities," the envoy said. "We take those suspicions so seriously that I was sent with a very senior U.S. Interagency Team to make sure that the North Korean government understood how serious this was." Kartman warned that failure to resolve suspicions concerning the Kumchangni site could call into question the viability of the Agreed Framework signed October 21, 1994. Under the Agreed Framework, North Korea agreed to dismantle its gas graphite nuclear reactor program, which produced weapons-grade material. North Korea also agreed to engage in dialogue with South Korea, remain in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to meet obligations set by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In exchange, the United States spearheaded the establishment of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), an international consortium led by the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the European Union. The main purpose of KEDO is to finance the building of two light water reactors in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to meet North Korean energy needs. These reactors are considered safer because they use fuel that produces significantly fewer byproducts that can be used for nuclear weapons. The reactors will be of South Korean design. The United States also agreed to provide 500,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil per year to help North Korea meet its energy needs until the new, safer nuclear reactors can be completed. Kartman said that the United States and South Korea have invited North Korea to continue talks about the Kumchangni site as soon as possible and will be "discussing some particulars of timing and venue through our New York channel." Following is a transcript of the press conference: (begin transcript) Press Conference by U.S. Special Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks Ambassador Charles Kartman Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade November 19, 1998 (Ambassador Kartman was introduced by Choi Seong Hong, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.) AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: I thank you very much Minister Choi and I thank all of you for coming by to hear what I have to say about my brief talks in Pyongyang. First I am here in order to keep the government of the Republic of Korea informed, to be guided by their advice at each stage of these serious talks with the North Koreans. I have had very good discussions this morning with Minister Choi and his Interagency Team and will look forward to continuing to work with them at each stage of the way. I reported that I had two days of quite intensive discussions in Pyongyang with a team lead by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Kwan. I made a presentation to Vice Minister Kim about U.S. suspicions about a site in the area known as Kumchangni. I noted that those suspicions were that this site is intended for nuclear related purposes and that it was imperative that these suspicions be resolved. Although we discussed some ideas for access to that site, there is still a rather wide gap between our positions, and I have to say that we are not yet satisfied that we have a solution in hand. Nonetheless, I feel that we have had a useful exchange of presentations, and we have invited the North Koreans to continue these serious talks as soon as possible and we will be discussing some particulars of timing and venue through our New York channel. Although I have to depart for a luncheon very shortly, I would like to reward your patience by entertaining a couple of questions; so if there are any questions please raise your hand. Q: How much was the compensation North Korea asked for access to the site, and what was the position of the United States conveyed to North Korea? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: The North Korean position is that they are not engaged in any nuclear related activities and that if they were to provide access to the site they should receive compensation for the insult that they will have incurred. We have absolutely rejected the concept of compensation so the question of the amount is sort of irrelevant. Q: Did you ask for just one Kumchangni site, or is there any other site you asked access for? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: We have asked for the North Korean side to remove our suspicions about Kumchangni. Only Kumchangni. Q: Does that mean the suspicions about Hagab and Taechon are resolved? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: Only Kumchangni means only Kumchangni. Q: Did the question come up about the impact this might have on the provision of the shipment of oil and that sort of thing? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: I think it should be clear that my presentation about the need to resolve our suspicions contained a very clear element of the danger that the failure to resolve those suspicions would pose for the viability of the Agreed Framework. Q: On a scale of one to ten what is the possibility, what are the chances, of this facility developing into a nuclear site? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: I believe that the United States and the Republic of Korea have shared views very extensively about this site, and we both believe that there is compelling evidence that this site is intended to be used for nuclear related activities. We take those suspicions so seriously that I was sent with a very senior U.S. Interagency Team to make sure that the North Korean government understood how serious this was. But if we are successful, there will be zero chance of it being used for nuclear related activities. Q: Will there ever be a situation where there would be a surgical strike to take out these facilities or something of that nature, if it came to that? AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: If I have to go back to Pyongyang, I may need surgery. (laughter) Q: How serious is the Congress about the possibility of (garbled). AMBASSADOR KARTMAN: You will have to ask the Congress that, but I take it seriously. Thank you very much everyone. (end transcript)
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