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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #107
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1999 12:40 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

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

QUESTION: There's yet another conciliatory statement by a senior North Korean official. This is the second in the past few days and I'm wondering if you attach any significance to them.

MR. RUBIN: Let me say that we've been following, obviously, very carefully the comments made by North Korean officials. We believe there is a window of opportunity to improve relations with the United States. We have made that point most recently at the highest level by Secretary Albright in Singapore.

Based on the ideas that were discussed during former Secretary Perry's visit, the North Koreans are aware of how that might unfold. So we think that there is a window of opportunity and we certainly hope that North Korea seizes that opportunity.

QUESTION: Has the US been in touch with any North Korean officials in the last few days to test the waters?

MR. RUBIN: No, we've been meeting with North Korean officials for quite some time. We had a number of meetings that Ambassador Kartman had in Geneva several days ago and since that time, I'm not aware there's been additional contact. But we would expect there to be additional contact.

With respect to missiles, of course, we are and have been willing to have discussions about missiles for some time. We've had several rounds of the missile talks with North Korea and we're hoping to have another round soon.

QUESTION: Has Perry met with officials at the White House to deliver his - I don't know that "report" would be the correct word - but his findings from his --

MR. RUBIN: Well, he works out of the State Department and he has certainly met with Secretary Albright about his report on a number of occasions. I am not aware of any additional meeting at the White House. That is a report that will eventually be available at some level, but it hasn't been completed yet.

QUESTION: What does the US make actually of the actual statement that the North Koreans made? Is it a hopeful sign?

MR. RUBIN: Well, we've seen a number of statements that have hopeful elements to it. But we're in the business of focusing on commitments made through the formal diplomatic process, not in the business of making our judgments based on news reports whether by important wire service or important networks.

So we will continue to work with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Certainly, we don't see these statements as making the situation worse.

QUESTION: To take advantage of this window of opportunity, are you looking for a promise that the missile test ban go ahead, or would you be happy if they just don't do it?

MR. RUBIN: Well, without getting into the details of what we might or might not be discussing in diplomatic channels, let me say it's been our position for some time that we have looked to have North Korea forswear long-range missiles and their export. That is what the position that Deputy Assistant Secretary Einhorn has taken in the missile talks as he has conducted them in the past. That is to limit not only the danger of North Korea itself developing a long-range missile, but limiting or eliminating the danger of North Korea exporting such technology.

QUESTION: Jamie, as many people know, the North Koreans would expect in return for not testing this missile that they would get something in return from the US. There are those who say that the US is already saying it would ease economic sanctions. If they forswear their missile program altogether, what can the North expect to get in return?

MR. RUBIN: Again, without negotiating in public, which we think would harm the national security of the United States - that is, to get in public to discuss various things that are going on behind the scenes. I can say that we have said for some time that there is the potential to normalize relations with the United States. Obviously, normalization of relations with the United States would include the possibility of liaison offices, the possibility of diplomatic representation and the possibility of eliminating or limiting economic sanctions that are in effect.

But that is what normalization means. What it will take to achieve that and what specific step-by-step measures would be taken is not something I'm prepared to get into in public.

QUESTION: The issue of liaison offices, though, I thought that was --

MR. RUBIN: It hasn't been resolved; it's still out there. So, yes, you're correct. As I understand the agreed framework, that was something that was envisaged by the agreed framework but it hasn't been resolved yet. So I was giving examples of things that are out there that would be part of the pathway to normalization, including liaison offices. Diplomatic offices would be another characteristic of a more normalized relation, as would the elimination of sanctions. So these are all characteristics of normalization, broadly defined.

What I'm not prepared to do in public is describe for you a process of quid pro quos. We've said what our policy is. We believe that the world would be safer, the region would be safer if North Korea would forswear long-range missiles and forswear the transfer of technology. On that issue - the missile issue - that is our position.

We've also made clear through the agreed framework, as you pointed out, that normalization could include these various steps, one of which was the liaison offices, which, if I'm not mistaken, is bottled up.

QUESTION: Last time we talked about liaison probably precedes you, but --

MR. RUBIN: Boy, that's a long time - or at least it feels that way.

QUESTION: In this business.

MR. RUBIN: Do you know that I'm the longest serving spokesman in the Clinton Administration?

QUESTION: Is that good or bad?

QUESTION: That's a frightening thought.

MR. RUBIN: Think about that.

QUESTION: Anyway, the your predecessor couched it in terms of a real estate dispute.

MR. RUBIN: I would have to check with the previous spokesman and so ably report it to you.

QUESTION: I wanted to follow up on this aspect of technology transfer. Are the North Koreans still selling their missiles and their missile technology in the way that they were a couple of years ago when it was first brought to light? And can you say this Taepo Dong II missile - has that kind of technology been for sale, or can you even say?

MR. RUBIN: We continue to have concerns about the transfer of technology from North Korea; those concerns have not gone away. With respect to what specific technology we are concerned about, I wouldn't be in a position to detail in public.

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

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