16 March 1999
TEXT: U.S.-DPRK JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
(DPRK invites U.S. to visit Kumchang-ri) (300) New York -- At their most recent meeting in New York, delegations from the United States and North Korea (DPRK) agreed that North Korea would invite the United States to visit Kumchang-ri in May 1999 to remove U.S. concerns about that underground site. The United States, for its part, decided to take a step to improve political and economic relations between the two countries. Following is the official text of the statement, which was released March 16: (begin text) U.S.-DPRK JOINT PRESS STATEMENT March 16, 1999 Delegations from the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea met in New York from February 27 through March 15, 1999. The delegations led respectively by U.S. Special Envoy Charles Kartman and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan, continued discussions the two sides had held in Pyongyang, Washington, New York, and Geneva since November 1998. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Agreed Framework of October 21, 1994, in its entirety, as well as to the principles of their bilateral relations expressed in the U.S.-DPRK Joint Statement of June 11, 1993. The U.S. and the DPRK, believing that successful cooperation to remove U.S. concerns about an underground site at Kumchang-ri will contribute to improved relations between the two countries, agreed as follows: -- The DPRK has decided to provide the United States satisfactory access to the site at Kumchang-ri by inviting a U.S. delegation for an initial visit in May 1999, and allowing additional visits to remove U.S. concerns about the site's future use. -- The United States has decided to take a step to improve political and economic relations between the two countries. (end text)
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