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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

.............

QUESTION: There's a report in a Japanese newspaper that the United States and North Korea may be near agreement on access to this suspect underground site in North Korea.

MR. RUBIN: Yes, I've read that report. Let me simply make a few points. Number one, we've made clear that we need multiple site access to the Kumchangni facility in order to resolve our concerns that this facility could affect the viability of the Agreed Framework. That is a requirement that we've been very clear on, and we've been very insistent on.

We have always taken the view that, depending on the calls for food aid put out by the World Food Program, that we would be responsive. We have been the leading contributor to the World Food Program's efforts for many, many years now. In that regard, let me say that, as there remains a substantial need for humanitarian food assistance to the North Koreans, the US announced last September an additional contribution of 300,000 tons. We will judge additional contributions based on the assessments of the World Food Program. The situation there remains serious, but we do not have estimates of the precise numbers of people affected. We want other members of the international community to contribute.

Thirdly, we have long said that, in the context of implementation of the Agreed Framework, and improvement in a number of areas, we could see a parallel process of improvement in relations. So those have been our long-standing views. What sometimes happens in these articles is people conflate all those things. I would urge you not to read every word too literally in that. But clearly, we are insisting on multiple access to the site, and we have always said that we will respond to World Food Program appeals.

QUESTION: But are you near agreement or not?

MR. RUBIN: With the North Koreans, there is no agreement until there's an agreement. Anybody who tries to characterize the words "near" or "far," or this or that, ends up eating their words. I'm going to avoid eating my words, because I use a lot of words, and that would fill me up.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: One more on that, Jamie. Do you have a date certain for a next round of talks?

MR. RUBIN: I would expect there to be an additional round soon. I don't have a date for you right now.

QUESTION: Is there's an outstanding appeal by the World Food Program for more food?

MR. RUBIN: I think this is the one we responded to - on December 15, there was an additional appeal. Our last announcement was September 21, 1998. I don't have any new announcements for you.

QUESTION: So there is -- I mean my understanding is that there is an outstanding appeal by the World Food Program that the US has not responded to yet; correct?

MR. RUBIN: I don't have any quibble with that.

(The briefing concluded at 1:35 P.M.)

[end of document]