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American Morning
Interview with Former Special Advisor on North Korea
Aired February 25, 2003 - 07:12 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So, the question this morning is: What exactly is North Korea trying to accomplish? And I spoke with Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the former special advisor on North Korea in the Clinton White House, about Secretary Powell's mission and how the White House is reacting to Pyongyang's missile tests.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMB. WENDY SHERMAN, FMR. WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR ON NORTH KOREA: I think they're trying to downplay the significance, because they don't want any more pressure on the eve of a potential war with Iraq, which I certainly understand. This was a shorter-range missile than the 1998 missile, which overflew Japan. This is probably, from what sources are saying, about 60 miles in range, a land-to-sea missile used as really a tactical weapon. And so, it is less concerning than a potential ballistic missile, which could reach the United States.
Nonetheless, I think this was a symbol from Kim Jong Il on the eve of the inauguration of President Roh Moo-hyun, the new president of South Korea, and to signal to the United States that North Korea isn't finished with us yet.
ZAHN: Secretary of State Colin Powell meeting with representatives of Japan, China and South Korea at the time that you say Kim Jong Il is sending this very powerful message. Do you think that will change anything?
SHERMAN: I think that Secretary Powell has had a very difficult and a very tough trip. He's been pushing a multi-lateral approach to dealing with North Korea, and he has heard from virtually everyone with whom he has spoken. It's going to take bilateral talks. Even Australia, who is very close to us, had said they don't like it, but they think that only bilateral talks will really solve this problem. I think China will try to push in the background quietly for North Korea to back away from its nuclear weapons program.
But at the end of the day, I think the administration is going to have to use one of the existing multi-lateral forums to get cover for direct talks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: We are going to hear more from Ambassador Sherman on the North Korean standoff and her reaction to what's going on in the Iraqi situation as well in our 9:00 hour.
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 February 25, 2003 - 07:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So, the question this morning is: What exactly is North Korea trying to accomplish? And I spoke with Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the former special advisor on North Korea in the Clinton White House, about Secretary Powell's mission and how the White House is reacting to Pyongyang's missile tests.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMB. WENDY SHERMAN, FMR. WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR ON NORTH KOREA: I think they're trying to downplay the significance, because they don't want any more pressure on the eve of a potential war with Iraq, which I certainly understand. This was a shorter-range missile than the 1998 missile, which overflew Japan. This is probably, from what sources are saying, about 60 miles in range, a land-to-sea missile used as really a tactical weapon. And so, it is less concerning than a potential ballistic missile, which could reach the United States.
Nonetheless, I think this was a symbol from Kim Jong Il on the eve of the inauguration of President Roh Moo-hyun, the new president of South Korea, and to signal to the United States that North Korea isn't finished with us yet.
ZAHN: Secretary of State Colin Powell meeting with representatives of Japan, China and South Korea at the time that you say Kim Jong Il is sending this very powerful message. Do you think that will change anything?
SHERMAN: I think that Secretary Powell has had a very difficult and a very tough trip. He's been pushing a multi-lateral approach to dealing with North Korea, and he has heard from virtually everyone with whom he has spoken. It's going to take bilateral talks. Even Australia, who is very close to us, had said they don't like it, but they think that only bilateral talks will really solve this problem. I think China will try to push in the background quietly for North Korea to back away from its nuclear weapons program.
But at the end of the day, I think the administration is going to have to use one of the existing multi-lateral forums to get cover for direct talks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: We are going to hear more from Ambassador Sherman on the North Korean standoff and her reaction to what's going on in the Iraqi situation as well in our 9:00 hour.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
