Clinton: U.S. Consulting Closely with Seoul on North Korea

09 March 2012

Secretary Clinton says the Republic of Korea is "an economic, political strategic leader not only in the Asia-Pacific but around the world.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will continue to closely consult with each other on developments related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea).

Speaking with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan at the State Department March 9, Clinton said the U.S.-ROK alliance is “a linchpin of America's strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific.”

“Any effort by anyone to drive a wedge between the United States and the Republic of Korea will fail. We consult closely on all aspects of our diplomacy. This will not change,” Clinton said, adding that both countries also believe it important to closely consult with Japan on the DPRK issue.

On February 29, the State Department announced that the DPRK had agreed to implement a moratorium on its long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and nuclear activities at the Yongbyon nuclear facility, including its uranium enrichment activities. The DPRK also agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to verify and monitor the moratorium on its Yongbyon uranium enrichment activities and confirm the disablement of its 5-megawatt nuclear reactor and associated facilities.

“This is a modest step in the right direction, and we will be watching closely and judging the DPRK’s leaders by their actions,” Clinton said.

Separately, U.S. and DPRK negotiators also recently concluded discussions on administrative details concerning the proposed U.S. nutritional assistance program to the DPRK. The 240,000-metric-ton program includes strict verification measures to ensure that U.S. nutritional assistance will reach those most in need of it.

“Our team just met in Beijing with DPRK officials to discuss the administrative details of this program, and we are working to move it forward soon,” she said.

The secretary noted that on March 15 the U.S.-Republic of Korea free trade agreement will take effect, and “we believe that this agreement will create tens of thousands of jobs in both of our countries.”

The United States and the Republic of Korea are building a global partnership, she said.

“Korea is an economic, political strategic leader not only in the Asia-Pacific but around the world,” Clinton said.

Kim said the government of the Republic of Korea welcomes the results of the recent U.S.-DPRK discussions and “appreciated the close ROK-U.S. coordination that was intact throughout the dialogue process between Washington and Pyongyang.”

In their talks, Kim said, Clinton told him “there will not be a fundamental improvement of relations between Washington and Pyongyang without an improvement of inter-Korean relations, and we both agreed that dialogue should be promoted and relationship improved between the two Koreas.”

The alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States is “in its best-ever shape,” Kim said, and it has been “the cornerstone of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia for the last 60 years, based on our common values and convictions, namely, free democracy and market economy."