North Korea: Engaging in More Bilaterals

Secretary's Remarks: North Korea: Engaging in More Bilaterals and the Six-Party Talks

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:01:43 -0600

North Korea: Engaging in More Bilaterals and the Six-Party Talks

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

Interview With Yoichi Funabashi and Yoichi Kato of Asahi Shimbun

Tokyo, Japan

February 17, 2009

QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, thank you very much. We really appreciate your sharing your precious time with us. Our first question is about North Korea. What would you say the biggest difference between your Administration’s policy towards North Korea, particularly North Korean nuclear issue, and the previous administration’s policy towards North Korea.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, the previous administration’s policy changed, as you know, over time. And I think the ending policy – that we had to engage in the Six-Party Talks and even bilaterally with North Korea – is where they should have started, because I think that is exactly what we must do, and that we have to work closely with the other partners, particularly Japan and South Korea, and engage with China and Russia to bring influence to bear on North Korea to convince them that their pursui t of nuclear weapons is n

ENDS

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