Fourth Round of Six-Party Talks: Evening Return to Hotel

QUESTION: Sir, can you tell us something about today’s session?

A/S HILL: We had a number of – first of all, we had the first major plenary session, so we exchanged views on a lot of the issues. Each delegation gave a lengthy presentation. I don’t think there are any surprises there. We’re all going to work toward a statement of agreed principles. We’re going to be probably doing some drafting on that in the next few days, although I can’t say exactly when that’s going to start. We’re trying to narrow the scope – figure out which issues we can address. Let me just say it’s complicated and there’s a lot of work that we all have to do but I think there’s also a real spirit there – we should really try to accomplish something.

QUESTION: How do you think of the North Koreans’ presentation?

A/S HILL: Well, the North Koreans made a presentation. They spoke about our June ’04 presentation. This is their first formal statement about the June ’04 presentation. They were – they obviously had their concerns about it, but they laid out their views and it was useful to hear their views in this formal setting.

QUESTION: How about the – they are saying normalization first, and then dismantlement.

A/S HILL: Well, we obviously have some differences with them on the sequencing of these issues. We’ve got to make sure that everyone remembers – especially the D.P.R.K. – what the purpose of this meeting is, that it is to really figure out a way that they can dismantle these nuclear weapons. Here we are in the twenty-first century and there’s just no reason why a country should be building up a nuclear arsenal. So, thank you very much, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to get some sleep. Thank you.