Remarks to the Media in Korea

QUESTION: Was the declaration acceptable to you?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: First of all we don’t have the declaration. We understand that the DPRK has completed, pretty much, the work on the declaration. When I go to the DPRK on Monday, I look forward to having a discussion about it with the understanding that the declaration will be delivered to the chair of the Six-Parties -- that is to the Chinese. It will be one of the main topics of discussion when the heads of delegation meet in Beijing, a meeting that we expect to be at the latter part of next week, 6^th of December I believe. But we’re waiting for an announcement from the Chinese to that effect.

QUESTION: And is it your understanding that the list of nuclear programs should include [inaudible] enriched uranium programs?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well it is our view that the list programs should be all programs -- that is all facilities, all programs and all materials. Now the DPRK has maintained that it does not have an on-going uranium enrichment program. Nonetheless they also said to the denuclearization working group in Pyongyang that they would address this issue to mutual satisfaction. So we are continuing to discuss the matter of uranium enrichment. And based on the progress in those discussions, I believe that by the end of the year, we can come to a mutual satisfaction. But I don’t want to talk at this point what’s on the list until we actually see the list.

QUESTION: Assistant Secretary Hill, while you are there, will you also be looking at the possibility of extending this executive presence to that of a liaison office?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Any presence, any on-going U.S. presence, today in the DPRK is directly related to the technical task of addressing the Yongbyon disabling. We do not at this time have any plans for a liaison office, nor have the North Koreans ever expressed any interest in a liaison office. We had made very clear to the North Koreans that upon denuclearization -- complete denuclearization that includes of course abandonment of the weapons-grade plutonium that is already produced -- that upon complete denuclearization, we will be prepared to establish a normal relationship with the DPRK that would include embassies. But that has to be upon denuclearization.

QUESTION: Ambassador Hill, during your stay at Pyongyang, will you ask to see a rough draft of some sort of preliminary list of the declaration?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: You know I think it is important to understand that -- as we go forward on these very important benchmarks -- that we are doing this in the Six-Party process, and that China, which has played a really excellent role as the chairman of this process, I think is responsible for ensuring that all the parties fulfill their tasks in the Six-Party agreement. So, to be sure, I will be having a lot of discussions about the declaration. But any actual declaration needs to be handled by the Chinese and presented to the Six-Party meeting.

QUESTION: You mentioned that you will have verified a solution by the end of the year. Does that mean that North Koreans are showing willingness to invite U.S. or other personnel to verify those declared programs?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Well I think that what it means is that the DPRK understands that, as we go forward, that verification needs to be part of any process. And that therefore in building trust with the DPRK -- and we have been doing that -- it has also been very important that that trust is used to expand the opportunities for verification. From our point of view, with any agreement, we need to be able to justify it within Washington, within our legislative branch. And therefore we need to be assured that we can verify what is done. So as we go forward, I believe there is an understanding in the DPRK that verification needs to be a part of any agreement.

QUESTION: If HEU is not included in the upcoming declaration, how serious is that? Is that a deal-breaker for the phase?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We need a complete understanding of HEU, of their program. Or if it is not an active program, we need a complete understanding of its past programs. But we cannot put ourselves in the position of trying to ignore things. We have to have clarity on all of these programs. And the DPRK understands that. I think that was reflected in the statement of the denuclearization working group in Shenyang in August.

QUESTION: One more question about what you said earlier, for my own use, to see if I got it right.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: All right.

QUESTION: When you said that you’re asking for the rough draft of the list, etc., does that mean [inaudible]?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I am sorry, what?

QUESTION: About asking for a rough draft [inaudible]?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, they are providing drafts to the Chinese.

QUESTION: Does that mean that you will [inaudible]?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We will have a discussion, but we are not receiving drafts. That is something that is done in the Six-Party process. But we will discuss it. And I hope that in the course of that discussion, we will know what’s coming in a draft.