Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Melissa Fleming

Aired December 27, 2002 - 10:21   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: More now on North Korea and its expulsion of weapons inspectors.
On the telephone with us now is Melissa Fleming. She's with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

And, Melissa, if you can hear me, OK, I understand you have a statement in response to North Korea's actions.

MELISSA FLEMING, IAEA SPOKESWOMAN: That's correct. I can't really go beyond the statement now, but I can tell you we did indeed receive a letter from North Korea today. Our director general, ElBaradei, received the letter requesting the immediate removal of our inspectors in light of their decision to lift the freeze on their nuclear facilities.

Dr. ElBaradei responded immediately, stressing that notwithstanding the lifting of this freeze, the presence of inspectors is needed for two things. One, for the immediate installation of seals and cameras -- as you'll remember, they removed IAEA's seals and cameras last week -- as well as a continuing presence of the inspectors when the nuclear activity begins. That is the loading of their reactor and the operation of their reprocessing plant.

Dr. ElBaradei said that he expects that the government of North Korea would allow inspectors to remain there and to install the necessary seals and cameras. In his letter, he asked them to confirm urgently their concurrence with these requirements, and should they have a contrary view, then only if necessary, we would make the arrangements for their departure.

He noted that together with the loss of the cameras and the seals, the departure of inspectors would practically bring to an end the IAEA's capability to monitor North Korea's nuclear program or to assess its nature.

WHITFIELD: Is there an expressed concern, however, for those inspectors if they continue to remain while North Korea is asking them to leave?

FLEMING: We are in very close touch with our inspectors on the ground. They have been informed by us, of course, of Mr. ElBaradei's letter. And of course, they have learned locally on the ground of the intention of North Korea.

Right now, we'd like to stress, though, we want to receive a response from North Korea to the recent letter before we take any action.

WHITFIELD: How is this activity, this action by North Korea, being interpreted by the IAEA? You know, is the North Korea calling, you know, the bluff of the U.S. to get involved as sort of to reopen of talks or diplomacy?

FLEMING: At the moment, we don't want to speculate. We are consulting with our board of governors. We are giving them a very detailed report. And any kind of -- there's going to be an urgent meeting of our political body, which is the board of governors, on the 6th of January. At that point, these kind of judgments will be made.

WHITFIELD: What kind of response are you receiving from its South Korean neighbors?

FLEMING: We have -- we are in close touch with our member states. It's all I can say that there is a tremendous amount of concern from the member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and certainly the greatest concern comes from those countries who are closer in proximity to North Korea.

WHITFIELD: And, Melissa, quickly, is there a timetable being set as you now -- the IAEA awaits response from North Korea?

FLEMING: We, of course, have asked for an urgent reply. And of course, that means not weeks, not days, but very, very soon, as soon as possible. They have asked for an immediate departure of our inspectors. We'd like an immediate reply to Mr. ElBaradei's letter.

WHITFIELD: All right, Melissa Fleming of the International Atomic Energy Agency, thank you very much for joining us -- 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 - 10:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More now on North Korea and its expulsion of weapons inspectors.
On the telephone with us now is Melissa Fleming. She's with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

And, Melissa, if you can hear me, OK, I understand you have a statement in response to North Korea's actions.

MELISSA FLEMING, IAEA SPOKESWOMAN: That's correct. I can't really go beyond the statement now, but I can tell you we did indeed receive a letter from North Korea today. Our director general, ElBaradei, received the letter requesting the immediate removal of our inspectors in light of their decision to lift the freeze on their nuclear facilities.

Dr. ElBaradei responded immediately, stressing that notwithstanding the lifting of this freeze, the presence of inspectors is needed for two things. One, for the immediate installation of seals and cameras -- as you'll remember, they removed IAEA's seals and cameras last week -- as well as a continuing presence of the inspectors when the nuclear activity begins. That is the loading of their reactor and the operation of their reprocessing plant.

Dr. ElBaradei said that he expects that the government of North Korea would allow inspectors to remain there and to install the necessary seals and cameras. In his letter, he asked them to confirm urgently their concurrence with these requirements, and should they have a contrary view, then only if necessary, we would make the arrangements for their departure.

He noted that together with the loss of the cameras and the seals, the departure of inspectors would practically bring to an end the IAEA's capability to monitor North Korea's nuclear program or to assess its nature.

WHITFIELD: Is there an expressed concern, however, for those inspectors if they continue to remain while North Korea is asking them to leave?

FLEMING: We are in very close touch with our inspectors on the ground. They have been informed by us, of course, of Mr. ElBaradei's letter. And of course, they have learned locally on the ground of the intention of North Korea.

Right now, we'd like to stress, though, we want to receive a response from North Korea to the recent letter before we take any action.

WHITFIELD: How is this activity, this action by North Korea, being interpreted by the IAEA? You know, is the North Korea calling, you know, the bluff of the U.S. to get involved as sort of to reopen of talks or diplomacy?

FLEMING: At the moment, we don't want to speculate. We are consulting with our board of governors. We are giving them a very detailed report. And any kind of -- there's going to be an urgent meeting of our political body, which is the board of governors, on the 6th of January. At that point, these kind of judgments will be made.

WHITFIELD: What kind of response are you receiving from its South Korean neighbors?

FLEMING: We have -- we are in close touch with our member states. It's all I can say that there is a tremendous amount of concern from the member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and certainly the greatest concern comes from those countries who are closer in proximity to North Korea.

WHITFIELD: And, Melissa, quickly, is there a timetable being set as you now -- the IAEA awaits response from North Korea?

FLEMING: We, of course, have asked for an urgent reply. And of course, that means not weeks, not days, but very, very soon, as soon as possible. They have asked for an immediate departure of our inspectors. We'd like an immediate reply to Mr. ElBaradei's letter.

WHITFIELD: All right, Melissa Fleming of the International Atomic Energy Agency, thank you very much for joining us -- 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.