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North Korea Expels U.N. Inspectors

Aired December 27, 2002 - 10:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is closely monitoring the developments in North Korea.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash is at the executive mansion with the very latest from there.

Hi there, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, the Bush administration so far is responding to the latest news out of North Korea much the same as they have been throughout the week as each day, as movements have -- news has been made there. They are saying that North Korea -- an administration official is saying that North Korea is isolating itself from the world.

President Bush is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where he is receiving briefings, his daily briefings and no doubt monitoring the situation there. But the Bush administration is making clear still that they have no intention of starting direct negotiations with North Korea. That an official said to me recently, that the ball is in their court, that if North Korea wants the U.S. to start talks with them on issues like a nonaggression pact, to start talks about restarting fuel shipments, that they should -- quote -- "Stop attempting to create a crisis."

Now, the U.S. strategy remains to be engaged with allies in the region, talking to officials in Japan, in Russia, in China. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday spoke by phone, we are told, with the Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov.

And we are also told the U.S. might send an envoy to South Korea, perhaps as early as next week, to talk with officials in that country about the growing crisis in North Korea -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dana Bash, thank you very much -- appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired December 27, 2002 - 10:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is closely monitoring the developments in North Korea.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash is at the executive mansion with the very latest from there.

Hi there, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, the Bush administration so far is responding to the latest news out of North Korea much the same as they have been throughout the week as each day, as movements have -- news has been made there. They are saying that North Korea -- an administration official is saying that North Korea is isolating itself from the world.

President Bush is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where he is receiving briefings, his daily briefings and no doubt monitoring the situation there. But the Bush administration is making clear still that they have no intention of starting direct negotiations with North Korea. That an official said to me recently, that the ball is in their court, that if North Korea wants the U.S. to start talks with them on issues like a nonaggression pact, to start talks about restarting fuel shipments, that they should -- quote -- "Stop attempting to create a crisis."

Now, the U.S. strategy remains to be engaged with allies in the region, talking to officials in Japan, in Russia, in China. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday spoke by phone, we are told, with the Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov.

And we are also told the U.S. might send an envoy to South Korea, perhaps as early as next week, to talk with officials in that country about the growing crisis in North Korea -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dana Bash, thank you very much -- appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.