Remarks of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell And Republic of Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yoon Young-Kwan After Their Meeting

September 3, 2003
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.

Posted on Sep 4, 2003

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I just had an opportunity to have full discussions with my colleague from South Korea, Foreign Minister Yoon. And as you might expect, we covered the six-party discussions that took place in Beijing last week, with respect to the North Korean nuclear weapons program, and we also reviewed United States stationing plans in South Korea.

And I, once again, reassured the Minister that all of our plans and ideas would be pursued in full consultation and with full transparency with our Korean friends. We have been strong allies for these past 50 years; we remain so. And, as partners, we have an open relationship where we can share ideas in full candor and with the desire of reaching a common understanding on the way forward.

And I, again, reaffirmed to him that there is absolutely no change or slackening in the commitment that the United States has to the safety and security of our partner and ally in South Korea. And as we continue with future discussions on the North Korean situation, we will consult in the closest possible manner with South Korea as we move forward.

As part of the visit today, I took Minister Yoon over to the White House where he had a very, very good conversation with President Bush for a few moments before we came back here for conversations with the Minister and his delegation.

Mr. Minister, great pleasure to have you here, sir.

FOREIGN MINISTER YOON: I have nothing much to add to Secretary Powell's brief summary. We evaluated the results of six-party talks, we discussed about the future direction of the six-party talks, and we agreed to have very close cooperation with each other to make the six-party talks successful in the future.

Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, does the United States have any policy difference with South Korea in dealing North Korean nuclear issues?

SECRETARY POWELL: No.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Thank you.

SECRETARY POWELL: George.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --

SECRETARY POWELL: Would you -- do you agree?

QUESTION: No, no, no, not a single one.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Do you have any response to North Korea's promise, so to speak, last week that they will carry out a nuclear weapons test?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, that's what they said. I don't know if it was a promise or just a statement.

We are looking for a diplomatic solution. We are working in concert with all of North Korea's neighbors -- Russia, South Korea, China and Japan -- to find a peaceful solution. We have made it clear, the President has made it clear on many occasions, I have made it clear, that we have no intention of invading North Korea, of attacking North Korea.

And on that basis, we should be able to find a way to move forward, but the way forward is not helped by threats and truculent statements that are designed to try to frighten the international community or to try to frighten us. We will not be frightened, nor will we be caused by such threats to take actions that we do not believe are in our interests or the interests of our partners. So the North Koreans can make these kinds of statements and can make other statements over a period of several days that they are not going to have future talks, or they will participate in future talks.

We've seen this kind diplomatic activity on their part in the past many, many times, and we will stay the course looking for a diplomatic solution, not removing any of the options that are available to us, working with the international community, and continue our efforts also to intercept contraband activity on the part of the North Koreans on the high seas, with respect to drugs and other materials that they should not be dealing in.

We have a comprehensive policy. It's been explained to our friends. Our friends agree with us, we agree with them, and we'll continue to pursue it. And we hope that the North Koreans will understand the seriousness of our position and our proposals and will respond in a serious way and not with these kinds of rhetorical threats.

QUESTION: Question for the Foreign Minister. Mr. Foreign Minister, the Chinese Government has come out in the last few days and said, not only North Korea, but the United States needs to change its approach towards dealing with one another, and that in a way, it's -- United States "hostile policies" are contributing to the situation.

Do you think that the United States needs to be more conciliatory towards North Korea in its approach?

Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER YOON: I think key policy makers of the United States have already expressed that they don't have any intention to invade North Korea. They don't have any hostile policy at the moment. So that's my answer to your question.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you think -- do you worry the military exercise with Australia will be viewed as -- by the North Koreans -- as hostile towards them? And also, are you going to bring this matter in front of the UN Security Council?

SECRETARY POWELL: I'm sorry. Which test?

QUESTION: The North Korean nuclear issue to UN Security Council?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think their nuclear program is before the Security Council. It was referred there by the IAEA, and we remain in consultation with the Security Council colleagues on it. We have no immediate plans to ask for action on the part of the United Nations. I heard a -- yeah.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang has suggested that the U.S. position on North Korea is one of the main obstacles to progress. What's your reaction to that, and what do you think are the chances of another round of six-party talks by the end of the year?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, press reports suggested that that's what the Vice Foreign Minister said. Neither I nor my staff, nor have Chinese officials we have talked to in Beijing about the matter, seen a full transcript.

But I think the context of his comment was that both sides have to show openness and flexibility, and I am quite sure the Vice Foreign Minister was not resting the problem on the United States. He understands, as do all of the other members who were in the room that day, that the fundamental problem is North Korean nuclear weapons development, not United States policies which are firmly grounded on the desire to find a peaceful solution.

Thank you.

QUESTION: How about -- do you see more talks --

SECRETARY POWELL: Oh, I'm sorry.

QUESTION: Do you think you'll have more talks in the near future?

SECRETARY POWELL: I think it's possible. I don't want to start talking about scheduling. Our Chinese colleagues, who are serving as the hosts of the talks and convened them last time, certainly, I think, are anticipating that we would have another round in the not too distant future, if I can just put it that way. But it remains to be seen. It takes six people agreeing to talks to have talks, and we'll see what unfolds over the next several weeks.

Thank you.

(The Secretary escorts the Minister to his car.)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the rationale behind the resolutions, why now? Why now? Why now, as opposed to -- why push forward now on this?

SECRETARY POWELL: Because it was timely.