• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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

QUESTION: You probably saw the testimony of George Tenet yesterday on Korea. It looks like they're, according to Mr. Tenet, on the verge of being able to reach the American mainland with their missiles. I just wonder how this might affect the way the US approaches North Korea.

MR. RUBIN: On the missile side, we have known for some time that North Korea is developing a Taepo Dong missile. As we have discussed previously, North Korea launched a Taepo Dong I with a small third stage in a failed attempt to deploy a very small satellite on August 31. While we had expected a Taepo Dong I launch for some time, its use of a small third stage in the attempt to deploy a very small satellite was not anticipated.

As we have also said, the launch on August 31 represents further progress in the DPR's missile program, and is a matter of concern because of its destabilizing impact on our security interests. However, North Korea would need to resolve some important technical issues before being able to use the Taepo Dong I with a small third stage to deliver a very small payload to intercontinental ranges.

North Korea also has been working for some time on a larger missile, the Taepo Dong II, that could deliver a somewhat larger payload to ICBM ranges. North Korea could be able to test-launch this missile for the first time as early as 1999.

These are the reasons - these activities - why we believe we should place such a high priority on missile non-proliferation and working closely with other like-minded countries to curb the flow of missile equipment and technology worldwide. We continue to press the North Koreans to cease all development, testing and export of missiles and missile-related technology. We also have made clear that any further missile tests would have serious negative consequences for our bilateral relations. We continue to remain in close touch with our allies on this system.

More broadly, suggestions have been raised about North Korea beyond the missile side. We certainly know that North Korea is a difficult and complicated issue and the stakes are very high, but we do not believe that there is an imminent crisis. As we have indicated, North Korea's activities at the Yongbyon facilities have been frozen by the agreed framework, including its plutonium reprocessing capability there. Concerns that North Korea might be intending to construct nuclear production facilities outside of Yongbyon or what led to the present negotiations over Kumchangni , which you are familiar with.

Dr. Perry has been asked by the Secretary and the President to review our overall policy towards North Korea. He is still consulting with Congress, outside experts, our allies and interested parties to ensure a comprehensive and thorough study. Any such broad study, obviously, includes a wide range of scenarios for what could occur on the Korean Peninsula; but it's not something we would want to speculate on at this point.

As you know, George Tenet said yesterday, the situation on the Peninsula is volatile and unpredictable. That is precisely why we've undertaken the wide-ranging policy review led by Dr. Perry.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 1:25 P.M.)

[end of document]