Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Diplomacy in North Korean Standoff

Aired January 14, 2003 - 06:02   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the North Korean standoff. Diplomatic efforts to end the nuclear crisis are taking place on several fronts today.
For that, we turn to CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon, who joins us live from Seoul.

Good morning.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Carol.

Well, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly this evening has headed from Seoul off to China, where he is hoping to talk with the Chinese about what more they can do to get North Korea to end its nuclear program. Now, diplomats are saying that Kelly's meetings here in South Korea went very well.

In his meeting with South Korea's President-elect Roh Moo-hyun, Roh reaffirmed to Kelly that it's very important to South Korea to have a strong alliance with the United States, and that the South Koreans really do want the U.S. to keep U.S. troops here in South Korea, and that those who oppose U.S. troop presence here are just a small minority of the South Korean population.

Meanwhile, also the two countries made it clear that they believe that North Korea can gain aid, and that there are many ways to help solve North Korea's economic problems, but only if it first bags its nuclear weapons program.

Meanwhile, as you mentioned before, there are diplomats on their way to Pyongyang. There's an Australian delegation hoping to discuss the issue with authorities there, and also the special assistant to -- special representative of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is also heading there to find out exactly how bad the humanitarian crisis is in North Korea right now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Rebecca, we understand Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly is on his way to China, and that's important because China has some pull with North Korea, doesn't it?

MACKINNON: That's right. China is North Korea's largest trading partner. It has a major card to play if it were to pull the cord on the trade links going with North Korea. Also, Chinese diplomats do have fairly strong ties with North Korea, although North Korea does not always listen to Chinese advice. So, the Chinese are saying they're doing what they can, but not to keep the hopes up too high -- Carol. COSTELLO: Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Seoul, South Korea this morning.

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 January 14, 2003 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the North Korean standoff. Diplomatic efforts to end the nuclear crisis are taking place on several fronts today.
For that, we turn to CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon, who joins us live from Seoul.

Good morning.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Carol.

Well, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly this evening has headed from Seoul off to China, where he is hoping to talk with the Chinese about what more they can do to get North Korea to end its nuclear program. Now, diplomats are saying that Kelly's meetings here in South Korea went very well.

In his meeting with South Korea's President-elect Roh Moo-hyun, Roh reaffirmed to Kelly that it's very important to South Korea to have a strong alliance with the United States, and that the South Koreans really do want the U.S. to keep U.S. troops here in South Korea, and that those who oppose U.S. troop presence here are just a small minority of the South Korean population.

Meanwhile, also the two countries made it clear that they believe that North Korea can gain aid, and that there are many ways to help solve North Korea's economic problems, but only if it first bags its nuclear weapons program.

Meanwhile, as you mentioned before, there are diplomats on their way to Pyongyang. There's an Australian delegation hoping to discuss the issue with authorities there, and also the special assistant to -- special representative of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is also heading there to find out exactly how bad the humanitarian crisis is in North Korea right now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Rebecca, we understand Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly is on his way to China, and that's important because China has some pull with North Korea, doesn't it?

MACKINNON: That's right. China is North Korea's largest trading partner. It has a major card to play if it were to pull the cord on the trade links going with North Korea. Also, Chinese diplomats do have fairly strong ties with North Korea, although North Korea does not always listen to Chinese advice. So, the Chinese are saying they're doing what they can, but not to keep the hopes up too high -- Carol. COSTELLO: Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Seoul, South Korea this morning.

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