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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: Can we go to Korea now? OK, well, in addition to the problems that are developing between Taiwan and the PRC, we have problems between the Japanese and the North Koreans.

MR. RUBIN: We do foreign policy, we do problems here.

QUESTION: All right. Now, tell me - the North Koreans say that they are simply going to be launching satellites, and they'll probably do it over Japan again, and that shouldn't be a problem. Japan is saying it's a missile problem and we're not going to tolerate that. And then Japan is going all around that region seeking support to put pressure on the DPRK. So is this indicative that a launch is coming?

MR. RUBIN: We obviously have concern about that possibility, and have for some time. Such a launch would have serious consequences for our relations with North Korea, with direct implications for the prospects for improved relations discussed during former Secretary Perry's recent visit to Pyongyang.

I'm not going to speculate on what specific steps we would take if such a launch did indeed take place. It would not be appropriate for me to comment about what we know about the details of North Korea's missile development activities, but we do view North Korea's missile activities as a serious threat to the region, and to our non-proliferation interests.

In past rounds of talks with North Korea, and in other bilateral contacts with Pyongyang, we have continued to press vigorously for restraints on North Korea's production, deployment, testing and export of missiles and missile technology. We continue to consult closely with our allies -- Japan and the Republic of Korea -- who share our serious concern about North Korea's missile proliferation activities. We've been working very closely with them for quite some time now about this issue and similar issues, and we expect to do that in the future.

QUESTION: Now, if Korea excuses their behavior by saying, we're going to launch a satellite -- if in fact they do launch a satellite by sending a missile over Japan, is that something that the United States would find flagrant and provocative?

MR. RUBIN: We would regard a missile flight such as that as a serious event, and it would have very serious consequences for our relationship.

QUESTION: Do you have anything new on the American woman detained in North Korea?

MR. RUBIN: I do not. I know that there was some - wrong place. We don't have any new access.

QUESTION: Congressman visit to North Korea to talk with the --

MR. RUBIN: Right, and nothing has resulted from that as of yet.

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

(The briefing concluded at 1:30 P.M.)

[end of document]