• 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: Has Ambassador Kartman made a safe journey in the same aircraft to and from North Korea?

MR. RUBIN: I will check his - I do not have an update. I'm assuming that if he was having trouble, I would have had an update. But we can check that for you.

QUESTION: On that point, you were also going to get something on -

MR. RUBIN: That I have - that I have. Do you need that?

QUESTION: Yes I do. Absolutely.

MR. RUBIN: Okay, we'll do that. On the heavy fuel oil -- for 1999 the first shipment of heavy fuel oil to North Korea, 22,00 metric tons was delivered earlier this year using funds already in KEDO's account. On March 4, the President signed the certifications required to release the first $15 million of US FY1999 contribution to KEDO. This money was used by KEDO beginning in April to finance additional shipments of heavy fuel oil. Total shipments of heavy fuel oil to date are therefore $90,000 metric tons. Further shipments will continue in May and June.

Certification for the remaining appropriated funds for fuel oil - that is, the $20 million - is now under review by the Administration. There is no "deadline" for its completion. The US expects to meet its obligations regarding the supply of heavy fuel oil to KEDO under the agreed framework.

In short, the previous moneys we've obtained from Congress are sufficient for us to continue to provide fuel oil for some time. We do want to be able to get the additional $20 million soon, however; but there is no deadline.

QUESTION: There is no deadline?

MR. RUBIN: Other than the deadline that would be a practical effect of when the other money ran out. But we still have some time because the other money is available for us to continue the heavy fuel oil for some period of time into the future.

QUESTION: The visit of the specialist to Kumchang-ni, is that still on track, due to arrive the 18th?

MR. RUBIN: Yes.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 1:50 P.M.)

[end of document]