01 January 2003
Bush Says North Korean Situation Can be Resolved Peacefully
(Looks forward to visit by President-elect Roh after he takes office)
(1,900)
President George W. Bush views the North Korean situation as one that
can be resolved peacefully, through diplomacy, and the United States
will continue to work closely with President-elect Roh of South Korea
as well as with other friends and allies in the region.
President Bush spoke at an informal press conference on December 31 at
a coffee shop near his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where he stopped with
family and friends for cheeseburgers.
"There is strong consensus, not only among the nations in the
neighborhood and our friends, but also with international
organizations, such as the IAEA, that North Korea ought to comply with
international regulations," Bush said. "I believe this can be done
peacefully, through diplomacy, and we will continue to work that way."
Bush noted that he already had held talks with President Jiang Zemin
of China at the Crawford ranch about the need for a Korean Peninsula
that is free of nuclear weapons. He also said that he is looking
forward to a visit from President-elect Roh Moo-Hyun of South Korea
after he takes office.
In response to a question about Iraq, President Bush said that Saddam
Hussein has defied the international community for more than a decade
and produced a weapons declaration that is incomplete. "The choice is
his to make as to whether or not the Iraqi situation is resolved
peacefully," Bush said.
President Bush said that he felt the United States was safer now than
a year ago, and will be safer still next year. The U.S. will continue
to lead an international coalition of freedom-loving countries to
disrupt terrorist activities, he said, and hold dictators accountable
to international norms and rules.
Following is the transcript of President Bush's December 31 press
conference at a coffee shop in Crawford, Texas:
(begin transcript)
Office of the Press Secretary
The White House
December 31, 2002
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE PRESS POOL
The Coffee Station
Crawford, Texas
December 31, 2002
THE PRESIDENT: Hi, guys. Happy New Year to everybody. Laura and I wish
all our fellow Americans a prosperous and peaceful and a happy new
year. We are really happy to be spending New Year here in Crawford,
Texas. We'll be having our New Year's hamburger here in a minute.
(Laughter.)
I'll be glad to answer a few questions -- Ron and Patsy and Mike.
QUESTION: Sir, I'd like to ask you if I could, why are you not
considering military action against a defiant, unstable,
unpredictable, nuclear-armed North Korea?
THE PRESIDENT: I view the North Korean situation as one that can be
resolved peacefully, through diplomacy. The international community --
particularly those countries close to North Korea -- understand the
stakes involved. I had a very good visit with President-elect Roh of
South Korea. I've obviously talked to Jiang Zemin right here in
Crawford about a nuclear weapons-free Peninsula.
There is strong consensus, not only among the nations in the
neighborhood and our friends, but also with international
organizations, such as the IAEA, that North Korea ought to comply with
international regulations. I believe this can be done peacefully,
through diplomacy, and we will continue to work that way. I take --
all options, of course, are always on the table for any President, but
by working with these countries we can resolve this.
QUESTION: So you're not currently contemplating military action?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Ron, I believe this is not a military showdown;
this is a diplomatic showdown. And we can resolve this peacefully.
QUESTION: Sir, you -
THE PRESIDENT: Hold on a second, please.
QUESTION: Sorry, excuse me.
THE PRESIDENT: And intend to work to resolve it peacefully. We've got
good progress in talking to our friends. And I look forward to the
fact that President-elect Roh is sending some people over here and
then he, himself, will come after he's been inaugurated.
Patsy, then John.
QUESTION: Sir, why should we be more worried about Saddam Hussein, who
has no nuclear weapons, than Kim Chong-il, who is unstable and does
have nuclear weapons?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I think it's important to remember
that Saddam Hussein was close to having a nuclear weapon. We don't
know whether or not he has a nuclear weapon. We do expect him to
disarm his weapons of mass destruction, that's what we expect.
Secondly, the international community has been trying to resolve the
situation in Iraq through diplomacy for 11 years. And for 11 years,
Saddam Hussein has defied the international community. And now we've
brought the world together to send a clear signal: we expect him to
disarm, to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction. The first step
in determining whether or not he will do that was discouraging. His
declaration was short. And the international community recognized
that, that he wasn't forthcoming.
Again, I hope this Iraq situation will be resolved peacefully. One of
my New Year's resolutions is to work to deal with these situations in
a way so that they're resolved peacefully. But thus far, it appears
that, first look, that Saddam Hussein hasn't heard the message.
QUESTION: Sir, can I ask a follow-up?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
QUESTION: Your budget directors put the possible cost of a war with
Iraq at in line with the first Gulf War. Why shouldn't Americans view
this possible war as possibly crippling our economy, that's already
very slow?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, an attack from Saddam Hussein or a surrogate of
Saddam Hussein would cripple our economy. My biggest job and most
important job is to protect the security of the American people, and I
am going to do that. And I had made the case and will continue to make
the case that Saddam Hussein -- a Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass
destruction is a threat to the security of the American people.
QUESTION: But can this economy afford to fight a war?
THE PRESIDENT: This economy cannot afford to stand an attack. And I'm
going to protect the American people. The economy is strong, it's
resilient. Obviously, so long as somebody is looking for work, we've
got to continue to make it strong and resilient. My most important job
is to protect America and Americans, and I take that job seriously.
And that's exactly what this administration is going to do. John.
QUESTION: Sir, are you concerned about the report that had five people
have come across the Canadian border illegally? Are you concerned that
there's any -- there are any new threats to the American security
right now, as we go into this new year?
THE PRESIDENT: I have authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the FBI, to put out an all-points bulletin for five individuals who we
believe have been smuggled into the country. We need to know why they
have been smuggled into the country, what they're doing in the
country. And if anybody has any information about the five, I would
hope they would contact their local authorities. John, we don't have
any idea of what their intentions may be, but we are mindful that
there are still some out there who would try to harm America and harm
Americans. And so, therefore, we take every threat seriously and every
piece of evidence seriously. And the American people need to know
there's a lot of good people working hard, whether it be on New Year's
Eve or any other time, to protect the American people.
Mike, you got anything?
QUESTION: Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
QUESTION: What effect do you think that -
THE PRESIDENT: That's plenty. No. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: What effect do you think that the attention to Senator
Lott's comment has had on the image of the Republican Party across the
country? And what do you plan to do to repair any damage?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I think that most people understand
that their Republican Party cares deeply about each individual,
regardless of the color of their skin or their religion. And I will
continue to promote policies that enable the American individual to
achieve his or her dreams. I believe in equal access to the greatness
of America. And this administration is committed to that and will
continue to work toward that goal.
Yes. I'll show you how generous I am. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Mr. President, looking ahead here, with a possible war with
Iraq looming, North Korea nuclear conflict as well as Osama bin Laden
still at large, is the world safer as we look ahead to 2003?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it's a lot safer today than it was a year ago, and
it's going to be safer after this year than it was this year because
the United States of America will continue to lead a vast coalition of
freedom loving countries to disrupt terrorist activities, to hold
dictators accountable, particularly those who ignore international
norm and international rule. And the American -- this government will
continue lead the world toward more peace. And the American people
need to be mindful of the fact that our government is committed to
peace and committed to freedom.
And we hope to resolve all the situations in which we find ourselves
in a peaceful way. And so that's my commitment, to try to do so
peacefully. But I want to remind people that, Saddam Hussein, the
choice is his to make as to whether or not the Iraqi situation is
resolved peacefully.
You said we're headed to war in Iraq -- I don't know why you say that.
I hope we're not headed to war in Iraq. I'm the person who gets to
decide, not you. I hope this can be done peacefully. We've got a
military presence there to remind Saddam Hussein, however, that when I
say we will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him if he
chooses not to disarm, I mean it. And we will continue to work to
resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way.
And it was right here in Crawford, Texas, where I had a meaningful and
good discussions with Jiang Zemin. Heck, it wasn't all that long ago
that a U.S. leader never spoke to the Chinese leader. And right here
in Crawford we had a dialogue where we both committed ourselves to
working in a way to convince Kim Chong-il that it's not in his
country's interests to arm up with nuclear weapons. And I believe that
can be resolved peacefully.
Listen, thank you all. I'm thinking about a little nature walk in a
couple of days. Anybody interested?
QUESTION: How far is it, how long is it?
THE PRESIDENT: About four miles. I know you're interested.
QUESTION: I have a question for you.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Patsy.
QUESTION: Did you keep last year's resolution to eat less
cheeseburgers?
THE PRESIDENT: A matter of fact, it's an interesting question she
asked: did I keep last year's resolution to eat less cheeseburgers.
(Laughter.) And the answer is, yes, to the extent that I'm now
comfortable in having a cheeseburger today. (Laughter.)
I hope you all are enjoying yourself here.
MRS. BUSH: Happy New Year, everybody.
(end transcript)
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Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
