U.S.’s N. Korea policy remains unofficially unchanged since Clinton’s visit

Posted on : 2009-08-07 12:26 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Officials say Clinton pressed for release of South Korean and Japanese individuals while asking for pardon of two U.S. journalists
 center
center

The U.S. government is officially suggesting it will maintain the current tenor of its North Korea policy. It appears, however, to be carefully considering changes in North Korea policy based on the results of former President Bill Clinton’s visit on the quiet.

In an interview with NBC on Wednesday (local time), U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S. has been telling North Korea there is a way to improve relations with Washington, and this way includes not developing nuclear weapons and not engaging in provocative acts. He also said former President Clinton’s mission to secure the return of the two U.S. journalists was a personal one, and did not signify an easing of international pressure on North Korea. He did say, however, that he planed to have a meeting with Clinton, whom he said would tell him all the interesting things he observed during his trip.

The U.S. State Department is also maintaining that any negotiations that took place during Clinton’s trip to North Korea are separate from the nuclear talks. U.S. State Department’s deputy spokesman, Robert A. Wood, said in a briefing that while they hoped North Korea would respect its international obligations for nuclear dismantlement, all the U.S. could do is wait and see, and that it was too early to tell if Pyongyang was returning to nuclear talks.

During his trip to North Korea, it has been confirmed that Clinton pressed Pyongyang to release South Korean and Japanese individuals who are also being detained. South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a briefing Thursday that he understood Clinton conveyed to the North Koreans that the Hyundai Asan employee being held in Kaesong (Gaeseong) and the crew of the Yeonanho needed to be freed from a humanitarian perspective. Moon also said nothing has been communicated to him in regards to North Korea’s response, and that all information comes from a high-ranking U.S. State Department official.

In a meeting with reporters Thursday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said that Clinton asked for movement on the Japanese abductee issue during his meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and that that the commission reviewing the abductee issue, as agreed to by North Korea and Japan last August, needed to be convened earlier. Kawamura said he had heard from high-ranking US officials that Kim did not offer any particular response to the abductee issue and there were no discussions about the nuclear issue or the six party talks.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Most viewed articles