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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: Jamie, can you say anything about the bilaterals that occurred today in Geneva?

MR. RUBIN: Well, what I can tell you is that we did, in our bilateral meeting, stress the advantage to North Korea of taking steps to improve its relations with the United States and the international community.

We noted particularly, as the Secretary did in Singapore, that it would be to the advantage of North Korea to work from the ideas discussed during former Secretary Perry's visit to Pyongyang. At the same time, we also expressed our concern -- that we have expressed in the past and that we don't miss an opportunity to express - about the dangers of another long range missile launch by North Korea.

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QUESTION: Did you say if you're satisfied or unsatisfied with that bilateral in Geneva? I mean, you said what the US said, but I was wondering if --

MR. RUBIN: At this point, we'd like to leave the remainder of the details to diplomatic discussions. But I was in a position to tell you what our basic messages were.

QUESTION: Will the subject of missiles in Geneva be brought up again subsequently in the Four Party Talks?

MR. RUBIN: Well, that's not what the Four Party Talks are about. The Four Party Talks are about developing a permanent peace settlement for the Korean Peninsula and for developing tension-reducing measures.

We do take what opportunities we have and we pursue those opportunities to make clear to the North Korean Government the fact that they have an opportunity to pursue one of two paths. One leads to a better relationship with the United States and the other to negative consequences.

The Four Party Talks is not the forum to discuss a subject like missile launches. We are pursuing, through bilateral channels, a resumption or scheduling of the next round of the missile talks, which would be the appropriate forum to focus exclusively on that issue. But we don't have a date to offer you.

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