DoD News Briefing
Thursday, January 14, 1999
Presenter: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
Press Conference at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
Secretary Cohen: First I'd like to express my gratitude to Defense Minister Norota for hosting my visit, and also to express my deep appreciation to Ambassador Foley and his entire staff. I had the opportunity to work with then-Congressman and then-Speaker Foley during a 24-year period, in which I served on Capitol Hill. And he is an extraordinary diplomat, as he was an extraordinary legislator. And so I thank him very much for his service here in Japan.
I had very good meetings with Foreign Minister Koumura, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka, and Prime Minister Obuchi. We all agree that the security relationship between the United States and Japan is extremely strong and [that] it is central to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. And at all of my meetings, we discussed the importance of defense guidelines. The guidelines will improve our ability to cooperate on contingencies ranging from natural disasters to threats to our mutual security.
We discussed the need for Japan, South Korea and the United States to deal cooperatively with the new security challenges posed by North Korea. Our policy toward North Korea can be described in four words:
Deterrence -- and this is one of the reasons why the United States maintains approximately 100,000 troops in the Asia-Pacific region;
Defense -- and that is, faced with new threats, the United States and Japan will cooperate on programs to develop Theater Missile Defenses;
Dialogue -- we will continue to pursue the Four Party Talks and to support President Kim's policy of engagement, in the hopes that we can solve our problems through cooperation, compared to confrontation;
Determination -- even as we help North Korea deal with its humanitarian crisis, we must be clear that our primary challenge is to contain Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction program.
The successful alliance between the United States and Japan reflects our common values and our commitment to work together to solve problems.
During the course of this visit I had the chance to see the strong partnership between our defense forces when I visited Misawa Air Base earlier this week. Japan provides generous support to U.S. forces who are serving here, and our troops work very hard to be good guests.
And I am glad to report that the Japanese government reaffirmed its pledge to resolve the Shinkampo incinerator problem by September of the year 2000, and the work to reduce pollution there has already begun.
I'm also pleased to report that the United States and Japan have reached an agreement on low-level training flights. This agreement is going to enable the United States pilots to maintain their proficiency while responding to concerns raised by Japanese citizens -- again, another example of our commitment to be better neighbors in the local communities that host U.S. forces deployed to Japan to protect our mutual security interests.
And with that, I'd like to entertain your questions.
Q: I'd like to ask, aside from the threat from the possible nuclear site in North Korea, aside from the threat to the Framework Agreement, can the United States and its allies tolerate nuclear weapons or long-range missiles in the hands of the North Koreans?
A: I believe we've indicated that nuclear weapons and long-range missiles and that combination, certainly in the hands of the North Koreans, would be very destabilizing and threatening to the stability of the region. That is precisely the reason why President Clinton and the Administration negotiated the Agreed Framework, and that was to stop the nuclear weapons program on the part of the North Koreans. It also is the reason why we continue to engage in talks to encourage the North to cease developing and testing its long-range missile program. We think the combination, either individually or in combination, poses a destabilizing threat to the region.
Q: I have two questions. First, about the missile issue. There is underground site suspicion. There is a lot of focus on it, but missile is another important issue. However between Japan [and] the United States over the North Korean missile issue, there is a subtle difference. How can you overcome this difference? How, ideally, should this be addressed? This is my first question. Second, about the North Korean contingency. In the case of contingency, the Far Eastern Economic Review and other magazines have reported that U.S. forces in Japan may go to Pyongyang - there is such a war plan. Is there such a war plan, really? And is this plan frequently revised? Could you talk about these points? Thank you.
A: First, with respect to the underground facility, the United States has received a variety of sources of information that causes us some concern about the purpose of this underground facility. We are suspicious of the nature of the facility. We need to satisfy those suspicions. We need to have access to the underground facility so that we can be assured and satisfied that the North Koreans are, in fact, complying with the agreement that was negotiated back in 1994. It would be very difficult to maintain support for the KEDO program if, in fact, the North Koreans are seeking to circumvent or subvert that agreement by covertly constructing a facility that would allow them to continue to develop a nuclear capability.
With respect to the missile tests that have been conducted by the North, it seems to me that that only reaffirms the need for the United States and Japan to cooperate in developing Theater Missile Defense capability. And we are very pleased that the Japanese government has decided in its budget deliberations to commit about $8 million to the research and development program that would allow us to proceed with research and development of the kind of defenses that will be necessary to protect our forces and our people from this type of missile threat.
With respect to contingency plans, we believe that we must maintain a very strong deterrent against any attack upon the South or upon Japan on the part of North Korea. And that deterrent capability is one that we will maintain, strengthen as need be, but to remain vigilant and strong. At the same time, we are seeking to be as open and flexible in dealing with the North as far as our negotiations are concerned. We think it's important that we continue to engage the North to seek to persuade them that the path toward their integration into the international community is one that should be pursued on a peaceful basis rather than a confrontational one, or one that seeks to in any way intimidate the countries throughout the region.
..............Q: I wondered if you could clarify the Pentagon's assessment of North Korea's missile advances? There were reports last month that the United States had alerted Japan that yet another test was going to be fired. Japan then retracted those reports and if you could clarify for us. Does the United States have evidence that the North Koreans are, indeed, preparing to launch yet another - yet another missile? Thank you.
............A: With respect to the testing on the part of the North Koreans, we have indicated in the past that we believe that they have tested and developed a missile capability. We saw in August of this past year the testing of a missile that had a fairly significant range. And we believe that we have shared information with the Japanese government and officials as we acquire that information, to make sure that they are alerted to any danger posed to them. So we continue to work very closely with our Japanese counterparts. We share information and intelligence whenever we have it and can, and we will continue to do so.
.....................Q: I hate to be the skunk at the garden party, but your visit here comes against the backdrop of the impeachment trial in Washington. I'm wondering, Sir, in your visits here and elsewhere, have our allies expressed any concern that America is somewhat distracted by what's going on in Washington? And secondly, have you or your planners in the Pentagon done any planning, I suppose is the way to put it, that some governments - of course, here, we're thinking of North Korea - might take advantage of the fact that Americans, at the moment, are not paying as much attention to foreign affairs as perhaps normally?
A: First, let me disagree with your characterization of your position as you articulated the question. Secondly, let me point out that I have worked very closely with President Clinton for the past two years. I have found him to be completely focused on national security interests without regard to any other factors that might be taking place. I continue to see the intensity of his focus. He has not been distracted. In fact, if anything, I would suggest that the most recent action taken by the United States in dealing with Saddam Hussein is just another example of the President's ability to conduct his job as the Commander in Chief of our national security system. And so there has been no distraction. He is completely focused on issues involving our security.
And as I travel around the world, I must say that virtually every leader that I have met with has praised President Clinton, has asked me to express their support for his efforts in building the kind of international regime that would contest and confront aggression, wherever it may take place, that affects the interest of ourselves or our allies. So I have seen no, in any way, diminution of support for the President internationally. There may be countries who might seek to try to take advantage of the domestic situation in Washington. Perhaps Saddam Hussein had that in mind when he frustrated and flouted the Security Council resolutions and obstructed Richard Butler in trying to carry out UNSCOM's obligations. If so, that was a classic case of miscalculation on his part. And to the extent that any other country would feel that President Clinton is in any way distracted from carrying out his obligations as Commander in Chief, they would be making a similar mistake.
Moderator: That will conclude the press conference. Thank you all very much.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan1999/t01141999_t0114jpn.html
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
