11 March 1999
TEXT: MAR. 10 PRESS RELEASE FROM USIS TOKYO ON PERRY'S VISIT
(Perry: U.S./Japan see need to stand shoulder to shoulder) (500) Tokyo -- Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry met March 10 with Japan's Prime Minister Obuchi and other Japanese officials regarding policy options toward North Korea. Perry, the U.S. Coordinator for North Korea Policy, is preparing a comprehensive review of United States policy that will recommend how the United States and its allies should deal with the Pyongyang regime. "Any successful policy toward North Korea," Perry said, "must be a closely-coordinated joint effort of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea." Perry gave President Clinton a detailed report on the preliminary findings of the review last week. The president, Perry said, wanted to get the assessment of President Kim Dae Jung of Korea and Prime Minister Obuchi before he reached his final conclusion. Perry met with President Kim prior to his visit to Japan. Following is the text of the press statement: (begin text) March 10, 1999 U.S. Coordinator for North Korea Policy, Dr. William Perry, ended his official schedule this afternoon in Tokyo, after meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka, Foreign Minister Koumura, and State Minister for Defense Norota. Dr. Perry, who was accompanied by special advisor Dr. Ashton Carter, State Department senior advisor Philip Yun, and other American officials, returns to the United States this evening. In a statement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Perry said, "This is my second visit to Japan in the course of my review of U.S. policy toward North Korea. I have come to continue my consultations with our ally, Japan, on this important issue. I do not need to explain to the people of Japan how seriously North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs threaten the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Thus, any successful policy toward North Korea must be a closely-coordinated joint effort of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. "Our policy study has been underway about three months since our preliminary consultations in Seoul and Tokyo. Last week, I gave President Clinton a detailed report on the preliminary findings of our review. He directed that I return to Seoul and Tokyo to share these findings with the Governments of South Korea and Japan. He wanted to get the assessment of President Kim Dae Jung and Prime Minister Obuchi before he reached his final conclusion. "Today, I had detailed and substantive discussions of the North Korea issue with Prime Minister Obuchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka, Foreign Minister Koumura, and State Minister for Defense Norota. I found that they have a similar assessment of the situation and of the need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, as we devise a comprehensive approach to the threats posed by North Korea. I will report their views to President Clinton later this week." (end text)
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