평화/화해

이정빈외무장관과 얼브라이트의 워싱턴 대담에 관한 특별보고

작성자
기사연
작성일
2000-03-17 00:01
조회
1992
NORTHEAST ASIA PEACE AND SECURITY NETWORK
***** SPECIAL REPORT *****

March 16, 2000

The following is the complete official transcript of a briefing
by US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and ROK Foreign
Minister Lee Joung-binn following Lee's visit to Washington. The
two agreed that "quiet diplomacy" was the most suitable tactic in
dealing with the problem of DPRK refugees located in countries
such as the PRC and Russia, and that the issue of DPRK terrorism
was still of great concern.

-------------------------------

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman

March 13, 2000

REMARKS BY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND
REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOREIGN MINISTER LEE JOUNG-BINN AT SIGNING
CEREMONY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ARRANGEMENT

Treaty Room U.S. Department of State

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Good afternoon, everybody. As many of you
know, Foreign Minister Lee was appointed in January and, given
the importance of the relationship between our two countries, we
agreed to meet as soon as possible. Our consultations today
confirmed that the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the
United States is stronger than ever. The Social Security
agreement that the Foreign Minister and I just signed will
enhance our already strong economic partnership. It will enable
the American and Korean workers, who divide their careers between
our two countries, to keep more of what they earn and ensure that
there will be no gaps in their retirement coverage.

This afternoon, Foreign Minister Lee and I reviewed the situation
on the Korean Peninsula, and I reaffirmed America's commitment to
South Korea's defense. The United States strongly supports
President Kim Dae Jung's policy of engagement with North Korea,
and we recognize the centrality of the North-South dialogue to
the establishment of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

During our meeting, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed South Korea's
support for the Agreed Framework, KEDO, and the Perry process,
which are essential parts of our joint approach to the North. We
also discussed the talks now underway in New York between
Ambassador Kartman and the North Korean Vice Foreign Minister.

The United States and the Republic of Korea have closely
consulted on our North Korea policies, along with Japan, and we
will continue to do so.

Finally, the Foreign Minister and I reviewed plans for the
Community of Democracies meeting that will take place in Warsaw
at the end of June. This conference is a joint initiative by
Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic, Chile, India, Mali and the
United States, and we expect more than 100 nations to attend. We
are fortunate that the Republic of Korea, which has set such an
outstanding example through its own democratic transition, is
helping to lead the way. And the Foreign Minister told me today
that he will be there, which I am very pleased.

Foreign Minister Lee.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Thank you. Good afternoon. I would first
like to thank Madame Albright for her warm reception and
hospitality at this time to me and my delegation. In my first
meeting with Secretary Albright in my new capacity as the Foreign
Minister, we had fruitful discussions on a broad range of issues
between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

Today's meeting was a good opportunity to lay the foundation for
a strong and sincere partnership with Secretary Albright. The
US-Korea relations are as strong as ever. On the basis of our
firm security alliance and the strong ties in trade, Korea and
the United States have seen their relationship evolve into a more
mature and comprehensive partnership deeply routed in the shared
values of democracy and a market economy.

Secretary Albright and I also had in-depth discussions on ways to
strengthen our policy coordination, vis-a-vis North Korea. In
particular, we exchanged our views on ways to ensure smooth
progress in the Perry process. We also discussed ways to further
pursue Korea's proposal to resume talks between the authority of
South and North Korea as expressed through President Kim's Berlin
declarations.

In addition, we also touched upon various pending bilateral
issues, as well as issues of common global and regional
interests.

Today, Secretary Albright and I signed the Social Security
agreement. This agreement has long been desired by both American
and Korean business communities. By substantially reducing their
financial burdens, the agreement will serve as a basis for broad
exchange and cooperation between our business community.

Thank you very much.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, we're not hearing a lot about the
talks in New York with North Korea. I wonder if you could tell
us if Ambassador Sheehan has laid out now the particulars for
North Korea's possible removal from the terrorism list? Has he
explained what it is they must do? Could you give us any sense
of how that or other items up in New York are progressing,
please?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, first of all, in the talks that
Ambassador Kartman has been having, they have taken a pause to
have consultations with capitals, and we expect that they will
pick up again very soon.

On Ambassador Sheehan, he has had an introductory meeting and has
made clear our interests in dealing with issues of terrorism and
the steps that need to be taken. So those talks are just
beginning, but I think we've made very clear the importance of
them.

QUESTION: Could I just ask if that subject will come up again
after this pause, or is that basically -- on terrorism?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I'm sure. It's part of an ongoing process.

QUESTION: As you know well, there are lots of -- thousands of
North Korean now floating nearby the North Korean border. They
are now in China. But so far, I do not have specific knowledge
about the position or explicit policy regarding those refugees.
They may not be political refugees, but they at least risked
their lives. They're in China for their lives.

So what would be your exact and explicit position on those
refugees? You may say considering that it's a sensitive issue,
you may say both of Korea and US need so-called silent diplomacy.
But thinking about the lives and the significance over the
regional stability, I'd like to hear what would be the exact
sound of that silence?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: This is to me?

QUESTION: Both of you.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, let me say that, generally, we are in
very close consultations on all the issues that concern relations
between North and South and in moving the process forward. We
also have spoken out quite a lot about the importance of human
rights in China and treating all individuals with respect, and
that would apply to everyone involved.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, this North Korean refugee problem is
one of the delicate problems, and what we are concerned with is
to secure their safety. And when they want to come to Korea,
South Korea, we are ready to receive all of them and let them
live in a free society.

But the problem is they do not come directly from North Korea to
South. They come through third countries such as Russia or
China, and here we have some delicate problem with third
countries.

So as Secretary Albright mentioned, I think the most important
thing is how to secure them. And I think in this regard, the
quiet diplomacy I think is one of the most desirable tactics.

QUESTION: Minister Lee, could you comment on the possibility of a
North and South summit meeting and, if positive, when and what
kind of agenda do you have?

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Can you repeat one more time? You
mentioned a summit meeting?

QUESTION: Yes, between South and North.

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, we have not yet proposed formally a
summit meeting to North Korea and in the Berlin Declarations,
President Kim mentioned the government-to-government level talks
to take up the economic cooperation.

And if the South-North relations improve as desired, I think we
can think about the summit talks with North Korea, but I think it
is not the right time to propose the summit talks. We have to
wait.

QUESTION: The first question is for Foreign Minister Lee. As you
well understand, the United States is now currently trying to
decide whether or not North Korea should be removed from the list
of state-sponsored terrorists. Does the South Korean Government
believe that such a move would be appropriate? Is there any
evidence, to the best of your knowledge that North Korea is
continuing to sponsor acts of terrorism either against the South
or other governments?

And for Secretary Albright, are you satisfied in your
conversations with Foreign Minister Lee that the South Korean
Government has stopped its program to develop short-range
missiles? Did that come up during your talks?

FOREIGN MINISTER LEE: Well, about the North Korean terrorist
acts, I think this matter should be talked in general terms to
prevent the terrorist acts. And, of course, in the past we had -
- we became the terrorist act by North Korea in the past. But
during the last few years, I think we didn't have such, you know
(inaudible) and I think in the context to prevent the terrorist I
think this problem should be discussed in that context.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Foreign Minister Lee and I did discuss
generally the subject of the Republic of Korea's defense needs,
which is something that we obviously talk about every time and
have committed a great deal to in all the years. We talked about
the fact that we will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of
the beginning of the Korean War and the very close defense
relationships that we have had.

We will continue to work, obviously, with the Republic of Korea
in making sure that their defense needs are met. At the same
time, we had a discussion about the fact that our
nonproliferation agenda is very important to both our countries.
It's a shared objective. And so we talked about defense needs
and missiles in those two contexts.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)