U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 3, 2008

12:36 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: Sorry. North Korea. What's your understanding of what's going on at Yongbyon?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, our understanding is that the North Koreans are moving some equipment around that they had previously put into storage. I don't have a whole lot of details beyond that. Our monitors, our personnel are still on the ground, as are some IAEA personnel, and that's why we have some real-time insight as to actually what it is that they're doing.

Now with respect to moving the process forward, North Korea knows what it needs to do. The United States has made it clear to North Korea, China has made it – made clear to North Korea, as have Japan, South Korea and Russia. Part of what they need to do is to complete work on the verification regime. So this isn't asking anything beyond what is the internationally recognized standards for a verification regime. As I mentioned yesterday, this is all part of the process of building up trust, as well as actually terrifying the facts that the North Koreans have given us.

So North Korea knows what it needs to do. It needs to act to meet its obligations. It needs to complete work on the verification regime. And once those things are done, the process can move forward, and we will – we are prepared to fully meet our obligations as well.

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QUESTION: Are they trying to glue back together again the cooling tower? I mean, what – how significant is this movement of equipment?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, yeah, I'm not going to try to assess it from a technical standpoint, Matt, because I'm not a physicist. I, you know, can't put together a nuclear reactor for you.

But certainly, it – what it does tell you is that the North Koreans are not at this moment moving forward on the process. And by that I mean they are not – they have not completed work on a verification regime. So beyond that, I'm not going to try to give you a technical assessment of it. What it means is the process is not moving forward at this point.

Part of what we are going to try to do to understand better what the situation is and to consult with our partners in this process – specifically in this case the Chinese – Secretary Rice has asked Chris Hill to go to Beijing for consultations. Ambassador Sung Kim will accompany him on those consultations. Chris will be leaving – is it – on the 4th and should be back this weekend. We'll have more for you as those plans develop.

But again, it's for – it's to consult with the Chinese, who are the chair of the Six-Party process and who also do have a unique relationship with North Korea, to consult with them about how to move the process forward. But the standards are clear. We have laid them out, as have others for North Korea how they – what they need to do.

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QUESTION: And just to follow up, when he's in Beijing, will Chris Hill meet with any North Korean representatives when he –

MR. MCCORMACK: Don't have any – no plans that I am aware of at this point. We'll keep you up to date on what his activities are, as well as Sung Kim's.

Nicholas.

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QUESTION: But they don't seem to agree on that. So where do you go from here? I mean, is there any space for negotiation on this, or what do you do?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah, well, in terms of our actions, we've made it clear. We're prepared to meet our obligations. The President and the Secretary of State have stated – have made that very clear. Part of – part of Chris' mission, if you will, to go to Beijing is to talk with the Chinese about how to move this forward. But we have stated where – our positions.

North Korea knows what it needs to do. It's not being asked to do anything that is extraordinary in terms of international verification regimes. It may be difficult for North Korea, given its history and given the kind of regime and the kind of society that it is. But this is part of the process of North Korea taking the necessary steps to have a different kind of relationship with the rest of the world. And we'll see if they choose to follow through on the commitments that they have made.

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QUESTION: With respect to Chris Hill's visit to China, is China already giving you some ideas, like suggestion or recommendations on verification protocol or –

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of –

QUESTION: – compromise?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of anything we've heard back from the Chinese.

QUESTION: Who is he meeting with –

MR. MCCORMACK: The – excuse me?

QUESTION: Chris Hill – is he meeting with Wu Dawei or –

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, like I said, we'll try to fill you in on the details as they become a little bit more clear as to with whom he's going to meet. Right now, it's bounded by his leaving Thursday, tomorrow, and being back this weekend.

You had your hand up, sir? We'll go down, and then you.

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QUESTION: The reassembling, whatever it is that they're doing.

MR. MCCORMACK: Look, there have been a lot of ups and downs, starts and stalls, in the Six-Party process. And as I said, we have a certain set of operating principles here, and that is action for action, and you know, standing on principle, looking for – but looking for ways to move the process forward. And I think that we've shown that while standing on principle we are prepared – we have been prepared to be flexible.

But at this point, it's really a question of North Korea performing on its obligations. And you look at recent statements from the Chinese President, from the South Korean President, about verification, and I think it's pretty clear that all the other members of the Six-Party Talks are completely united on it. North Korea really needs to fulfill its obligations here in terms of the verification regime.

Okay. Other questions? Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR. MCCORMACK: To my knowledge, the only stop is Beijing.

Charles.

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(The briefing was concluded at 12:56 p.m.)