Q and A After Meeting With Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officials

12:10 p.m.

QUESTION: Can you tell us something about the meetings, a series of meetings today in the morning?

DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Yes, I would be pleased to do that. I am here as part of consultations with the government of South Korea, this is the first trip I’ve taken here since the new government took office. We have a very strategic relationship with your country covering a wide range of issues both in the security and in the economic area, and I had an opportunity today to discuss with the Foreign Minister and with the National Security Advisor and now with the Vice Foreign Minister, a whole range of issues of mutual concern.

QUESTION: Do you expect Director Sung Kim to receive the draft of the declaration list this time?

DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE:  I’d rather not comment on the details of his visit there except to say that this is part of an on-going process connected with the Six Party Talks, particularly with the phase concerning denuclearization, and this is part of that process and we will have to wait and see what that brings. Thank you very much.