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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation President Bush and South Korea President Roh on North Korea's nuclear programme, November 17, 2005'Bush, South Korea's Roh Emphasize Unified Stance on North Korea', Washington File, November 17, 2005. Following is the White House transcript: THE WHITE HOUSE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT ROH OF THE REPUBLIC OF
KOREA Hotel Hyundai 12:15 P.M. (Local) PRESIDENT ROH: (As translated.) ... At this meeting, we were able to reaffirm that the Korea-U.S. alliance, based on the common values of democracy and market economy, is strong and that it is developing into a comprehensive, dynamic and mutually beneficial alliance. We also agreed that the Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, we were able to reaffirm that most of the major issues related to our alliance are progressing smoothly, and that the agreed points are being implemented faithfully. For the remaining issues, we agreed that they would be resolved in close consultation with each other, to benefit both sides, based on mutual respect and the spirit of our alliance. President Bush and I agreed to launch a ministerial level strategic dialogue to conduct in-depth consultations on the future direction of our alliance and other far-ranging issues. With regard to the North Korea nuclear issue, we reiterated that a nuclear-armed North Korea will not be tolerated, and reaffirmed that the issue should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means. In order to implement the September 19th joint statement of the six-party talks, Korea and the U.S. agreed to work closely together. We especially felt that the second phase of the fifth round of six-party talks should be held as soon as possible in order to find a breakthrough in resolving the nuclear issue. Furthermore, we had a sincere dialogue about building a peace structure on the Korea Peninsula. Going beyond the resolution of the North Korea issue, we both felt that a strong peace structure must be in place in order not only to reduce tensions, but also build permanent peace and trust, in order to create a new future for the Korea Peninsula... PRESIDENT BUSH: ... We talked, of course, about the North Korean issue. We talked about the need to make sure that we continue to strategize through this -- five of us who are working with North Korea to get North Korea to implement that which it said it would do, which is to verifiably get rid of its nuclear weapons and programs. It's in the world's interest that this happen. It's also in our interest that we continue to work together to solve the problem. I see a peninsula one day that is united and at peace. And that's a vision, Mr. President, that I know you share, as well. And that's a -- it's the right vision. There's a -- there's a real possibility that by working together, at some point in time the peninsula will be united and at peace. And I want to appreciate that vision of yours, sir. We also talked about our bilateral relations. Well, let me -- first, I want to thank the President and the people of this wonderful country for sending more than 3,000 troops to Iraq to help that democracy flourish. And it's a -- to me, it's not only a gesture of friendship, but it's a gesture of understanding that a democracy in the heart of the Middle East will help bring peace to others. And I thank you for your leadership, Mr. President, not only in -- on the troops, but as well as providing assistance to both Iraq and Afghanistan. We're bound by our love of freedom. And those commitments by your government indicate how close we are in terms of promoting the values of freedom and democracy... QUESTION: First, I have a question to President Roh -- actually, I have two questions. By holding early inter-Korean summit meeting, some people are saying that this could help to resolve the nuclear issue of North Korea. With regard to where and how the second Korean summit meeting, the government has said that it is not an issue as to where the meeting will be held. And I would like to ask your position on that. And second, through your summit meeting today, you have said that the Korea-U.S. alliance is very strong, indeed. But some people are seeing -- since your administration took office we are seeing cracks in the alliance. I would like to hear your opinion on this issue, as well, please. PRESIDENT ROH: Yes, thank you very much for that question. As for a second inter-Korean summit meeting, the Korean government has always said that it is open to the possibility of a second inter-Korean summit meeting, and we wish to meet again with the leader of North Korea. But North Korea will probably have its own strategies. The North Korean nuclear issue has to be resolved and I'm not sure whether North Korea thinks that it would be beneficial for them to meet with South Korea before or after the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issues. I think that this is probably something that North Korea will have to judge and decide. This is the status that we are at right now. And in this situation, Korea -- if we just look at the second inter-Korean summit meeting and the holding of that meeting, itself, as something that has a very important outcome, I really don't think that this will help North Korea's nuclear issue to be resolved. Of course, it's important that we meet, but what's more important is the content of the meeting, what we can agree upon and what we can resolve through an inter-Korean summit meeting. So I don't think that we should hold a summit meeting just for the sake of holding a summit meeting. We need to very sincerely consult this issue and think it over as to the content of the meeting... Q: Thank you, sir. The North Koreans have said they don't believe the agreement they signed in September binds them to give up nuclear weapons before they get any assistance. PRESIDENT BUSH: Before getting assistance -- yes. Q: Yes. Are you willing to give them assistance first? And, President Roh, your country gives a lot of assistance to North Korea already. Does that put your approach at odds with the approach of the U.S.? PRESIDENT BUSH: The issue really is the light-water reactor. Our position is, is that we'll consider the light-water reactor at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is after they have verifiably given up their nuclear weapons and/or programs... Q: I have two questions to President to President Roh. First, with regard to human rights in North Korea, I do understand that the third committee of the United Nations will be putting the resolution on the North Korean human rights to vote. I would like to ask about reports that there are differences in opinions between you and President Bush with regard to North Korean human rights issues. I'd like to ask what was the discussion between you in today's meeting. And I'd also like to ask President Roh about our principles on voting in the United Nations on this resolution. And second, in the last meeting between you and President Bush, President Bush mentioned Mr. Kim Jong-il, and it was also -- some analysts also said that that summit meeting between you and President Bush helped the discussions in the six-party talks. This summit meeting between you and President Bush is being held in the recess period of the fifth six-party talks. I'd like to ask if you think that this summit meeting today, do you have any message to the six-party talks and North Korea? PRESIDENT ROH: As for the North Korean nuclear issue, President Bush and I engaged in a lengthy discussion on that issue. And the contents of the discussion were basically that we agreed on the fundamental principles when it came to the North Korean nuclear issue. And in the process of the six-party talks, how North Korea would act, the tactics of North Korea when it came to the details, we had some ideas to exchange, and because of that, the discussion of the North Korean nuclear issue was quite lengthy. But I must say that we do not have any differing opinions on this. We are basically looking to resolve this North Korean nuclear issue, and we are exploring for ways that we can resolve this issue. We have no disagreement at all that this issue must be resolved. And in understanding the attitude of North Korea, I do believe that we were able to share a recognition on North Korea's attitude in this whole process. And with regard to this issue, the authorities of both side, Korea and the United States, must work closely in cooperation and consult with each other. And we agreed that we need to have -- share an agreement if we want the whole process to succeed. And overall, this North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully within the framework of the six-party talks. And we were quite optimistic that it would be able to be resolved in the framework of the six-party talks. If I just add one more point. The six-party talks, yes, definitely it is a difficult task to accomplish. But the United States, when it looks at Northeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean nuclear issue, it has many policies. But I do believe that these policies are some of the United States most successful policies, indeed. And here in Korea, as well, the inter-Korean relations are very stable, indeed. And in the process of resolving this North Korean nuclear issue, once again I do believe that we are in close cooperation with the United States, and we have this framework of the six-party talks. And this is a framework that includes all the members of the Northeast Asian community. And we are responding to the North Korean nuclear issue together. So I think that we are holding dialogue on a very stable foundation. Of course, North Korea is not someone that we can very easily engage in discussion and dialogue with. North Korea probably has its own very complex attitudes and positions. But this has always been the case with North Korea. And in our process of engaging in dialogue with North Korea, I think that we have a most strategic and solid foundation of dialogue that we have ever had. Therefore, once again, when it comes to the United States' Northeast Asia policies, I think that they are in a very good direction, indeed. And that was what I did mention during our talks. And when I first met with President Bush, I asked him to also listen to opinions that things were going well in Northeast Asia, that things would go well in Northeast Asia, as well. Thank you very much. And this concludes today's joint press conference. Source: US Department of State, Washington File, http://usinfo.state.gov. © 2005 The Acronym Institute. |