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CNN Live Saturday
U.S. Envoy Calls on North Korea to Dismantle Weapons Program
Aired October 19, 2002 - 18:10 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: An American envoy is urging North Korea's government to dismantle its nuclear weapons program -- quote -- "immediately and visibly."
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly discussed the issue with Chinese and South Korean officials in Seoul today. North Korea admitted earlier this month that it has a secret nuclear program. White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has the latest reaction from the Bush administration.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High powered diplomacy and international pressure will force North Korea to disarm -- that's the message from a top U.S. envoy dispatched to the region who is meeting with officials from China, South Korea and Japan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are watching very closely to see if North Korea takes the action we and the rest of the international community are demanding to immediately and visibly end its nuclear weapons program and to abide by its international commitment.
MALVEAUX: How to get North Korea to abide by its commitment made in 1994 not to pursue a nuclear weapons program has been a concern for the Bush administration since the president labeled it a member of the Axis of Evil.
But North Korea's blatant admission this week to having nuclear weapons has made confronting Kim Jong Il's regime another priority for the Bush administration.
Some political observers believe North Korea's disclosure is meant to overt the kind of showdown Iraq is facing with the U.S. now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It illustrates a change in tactics by the North Korean government that they want to bring this issue to the forefront and try to extract more in the way of concessions from the United States and the neighboring countries.
MALVEAUX: But it may turn out just the opposite. The U.S. is threatening to use its economic might to force North Korea to disarm by possibly pulling the plug on U.S.-funded power plant projects, cutting off fuel assistance or slapping on economic sanctions.
U.S. officials are also putting pressure on North Korea's major trading partners, Russia, China and Japan, to scale back their business dealings.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, this week President Bush is going to be meeting with the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea. The message -- they need to force North Korea to disarm without using military force. Anderson?
COOPER: All right -- Suzanne -- thanks very much tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Program>
Aired October 19, 2002 - 18:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: An American envoy is urging North Korea's government to dismantle its nuclear weapons program -- quote -- "immediately and visibly."
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly discussed the issue with Chinese and South Korean officials in Seoul today. North Korea admitted earlier this month that it has a secret nuclear program. White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has the latest reaction from the Bush administration.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High powered diplomacy and international pressure will force North Korea to disarm -- that's the message from a top U.S. envoy dispatched to the region who is meeting with officials from China, South Korea and Japan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are watching very closely to see if North Korea takes the action we and the rest of the international community are demanding to immediately and visibly end its nuclear weapons program and to abide by its international commitment.
MALVEAUX: How to get North Korea to abide by its commitment made in 1994 not to pursue a nuclear weapons program has been a concern for the Bush administration since the president labeled it a member of the Axis of Evil.
But North Korea's blatant admission this week to having nuclear weapons has made confronting Kim Jong Il's regime another priority for the Bush administration.
Some political observers believe North Korea's disclosure is meant to overt the kind of showdown Iraq is facing with the U.S. now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It illustrates a change in tactics by the North Korean government that they want to bring this issue to the forefront and try to extract more in the way of concessions from the United States and the neighboring countries.
MALVEAUX: But it may turn out just the opposite. The U.S. is threatening to use its economic might to force North Korea to disarm by possibly pulling the plug on U.S.-funded power plant projects, cutting off fuel assistance or slapping on economic sanctions.
U.S. officials are also putting pressure on North Korea's major trading partners, Russia, China and Japan, to scale back their business dealings.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, this week President Bush is going to be meeting with the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea. The message -- they need to force North Korea to disarm without using military force. Anderson?
COOPER: All right -- Suzanne -- thanks very much tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Program>
