Disarmament Documentation

US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill on North Korea and the US terrorism list, September 4, 2007

Press Stakeout in Australia Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Lobby of the Hotel Intercontinental Sydney, Australia, September 4, 2007.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Hi. How are you?

QUESTION: North Korean officials said that they have been taken off of the terrorism list. Is that accurate?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No, they haven't been taken off the terrorism list. We, as you know, we committed in February to begin the process. So we had some good discussions on this. And their getting off that list will depend on further denuclearization.

So we we discussed a range of issues in our bilateral working group, mainly our bilateral issues. We made it very clear that as the DPRK moves forward on denuclearization, we can move forward on things. So it was a, you know, good discussion. I was able to brief Ken Sasae last night. And I will see him today to give the Japan a full readout, because Japan also has its bilateral meeting. One thing I will say is that I made very clear to the DPRK that we expect to see them improve their relations with Japan.

QUESTION: What is it -- What do you mean by further denuclearization for them to be -

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Again, I don't want to get into all the details of it. You know, we had some private diplomatic discussions. We had some understanding of how we go forward. But in answer to your question are they off the list? No, they are not off the list.

Okay?

QUESTION: What time are you going to your meeting?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I think we have a lunch planned or something.

QUESTION: Here? At the Intercontinental?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: I don't know. Look, I'm not your scheduler. So I don't know. (Laughter) You'll have to find that out.

QUESTION: Today?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Today? What is today? Is it Monday?

QUESTION: Tuesday.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Tuesday. Oh, okay. I guess it is today then. Okay.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: That was a long flight, let me tell you. 21 hours. Matsuzaka is pitching in about two more hours. I'll need to check on that.

Source: US Department of State, www.state.gov.