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North Korea Talks Haven't Solved Anything Yet, Players Are Talking
Aired August 28, 2003 - 05:31 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: Look who's talking. It wasn't a formal meeting, but U.S. and North Korean diplomats at least chatted with each other in Beijing. That's where they're attending talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
Mike Chinoy reports live by video phone from the Chinese capital -- hello, Mike.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, before I get into the ins and outs of the diplomacy here, a quick reminder of just what's at stake. The U.S. believes North Korea already has one or two nuclear bombs and right now is making enough weapons grade plutonium that it could have four or five more within a year and continue to produce that much every year. Trying to stop that is what's at the heart of this three day meeting of the U.S., North Korea, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan.
On Wednesday, the American and North Korean diplomats had a brief informal meeting on the sidelines of the conference and most of the day here Thursday has been devoted to either informal meetings between the various participants.
However, as far as we can tell, Washington and Pyongyang remain very far apart. The U.S. demanding that North Korea agree to give up its nuclear program before any security assurances or economic aid can be discussed. And the North, for its part, saying if the U.S. doesn't agree to sign a non-aggression pact, it'll continue with its nuclear program.
The Chinese, who are the hosts here, are said to be circulating a draft communique to be issued at the end of the meeting on Friday. It's a very simple communique, saying only the six parties came here, they met, they spoke, they listened to each other's positions and they agreed to meet again. But it is far from clear yet that all six will agree even on that simple declaration. It will depend on how these informal talks go the rest of Thursday and on Friday -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Beijing this morning.
Get the background on those talks and also view an interactive gallery of the nuclear club on our Web site. We've got that and more. You know the address by now, cnn.com/AOL, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Talking>
Aired August 28, 2003 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Look who's talking. It wasn't a formal meeting, but U.S. and North Korean diplomats at least chatted with each other in Beijing. That's where they're attending talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
Mike Chinoy reports live by video phone from the Chinese capital -- hello, Mike.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, before I get into the ins and outs of the diplomacy here, a quick reminder of just what's at stake. The U.S. believes North Korea already has one or two nuclear bombs and right now is making enough weapons grade plutonium that it could have four or five more within a year and continue to produce that much every year. Trying to stop that is what's at the heart of this three day meeting of the U.S., North Korea, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan.
On Wednesday, the American and North Korean diplomats had a brief informal meeting on the sidelines of the conference and most of the day here Thursday has been devoted to either informal meetings between the various participants.
However, as far as we can tell, Washington and Pyongyang remain very far apart. The U.S. demanding that North Korea agree to give up its nuclear program before any security assurances or economic aid can be discussed. And the North, for its part, saying if the U.S. doesn't agree to sign a non-aggression pact, it'll continue with its nuclear program.
The Chinese, who are the hosts here, are said to be circulating a draft communique to be issued at the end of the meeting on Friday. It's a very simple communique, saying only the six parties came here, they met, they spoke, they listened to each other's positions and they agreed to meet again. But it is far from clear yet that all six will agree even on that simple declaration. It will depend on how these informal talks go the rest of Thursday and on Friday -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Beijing this morning.
Get the background on those talks and also view an interactive gallery of the nuclear club on our Web site. We've got that and more. You know the address by now, cnn.com/AOL, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Talking>
